SANFORD — Even as design work continues on Sanford’s new high school and regional technical center, the community is getting ready for a second school construction project – a new elementary school.

What’s on tap next in that effort is a look at the current high school to determine whether some changes can be made to the building, which was constructed around 1970, that might make it adaptable for reuse.

Superintendent of Schools David Theoharides, in a weekly update issued Sunday evening, said the school department has received five applications from architects for the elementary school project.

“The second project involves an initial review of options for renovating the current high school in an elementary school or junior high school once the new high school is completed in summer 2018,” he said.

One idea that has emerged would be to move the existing junior high school with grades 6-8, into the old high school. The junior high school could then be converted into an elementary school.

After years of effort, Sanford came up trumps on the state education department’s priority list for new school construction back in 2011, earning not only a new high school and technical center but an elementary school as well. The three so-called “small” elementary schools ”“ Emerson, Willard and Lafayette schools ”“ were all named to the state’s construction list that year.

Emerson School which was the educational setting for grade 1-3 students in the last years of its  life as a school building, closed a year ago and the City Council recently signed a purchase and sale agreement for the property, which is expected to be demolished. Willard School was built in the 1930s, and Lafayette School was originally built in the 1920s. 

Once a new elementary school project is decided, the community will have three schools for elementary grades – the new one, Margaret Chase Smith School and Carl J. Lamb School.

Theoharides said the City Council is expected to name a building committee for the elementary project soon.

As to the high school and technical center project, Theoharides said architect Lance Whitehead of Lavallee Brensigner is working on the final layout and design.

A community forum has been set for 7 p.m., April 6 at the Sanford High School cafeteria to review plans for the exterior athletic fields, stadium, track and artificial turf for the high school and technical center project. Theoharides said a representative from the turf industry will be on hand to answer questions about available options.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].