The Portland Board of Education voted Tuesday night to support the use of about $1.3 million in local funds for “add-ons” to the state-funded Hall Elementary School project.

The state has agreed to pay for a replacement school, estimated to cost at least $25 million, but local funds must be used for certain upgrades not covered under state rules.

The upgrades at Hall include a bigger cafeteria, a bigger gymnasium, additional security, additional play structures and outside learning space, and having the project be LEED-certified as a “green” building.

The board’s advisory recommendation now goes to the City Council.

The board voted 8-1, with member Sarah Thompson dissenting. She said she could not support the costs for a larger gymnasium and cafeteria.

Building committee chairman and City Councilor Ed Suslovic said the committee believed the full list of add-ons was necessary, not just a list of “wants.”

“We went through a very difficult process,” he said.

Suslovic said the council would likely set a public hearing for Feb. 1 on a bond issue to raise the local funds, with a tentative date for a referendum on April 5.

Several speakers said the larger gym, which would cost an extra $532,000, was particularly critical for after-school activities and community events. Parent Brian Jackson, who was on the building committee, said it would make a big difference.

“We’re trying to build a community here, not just a Hall school for Hall kids.”

State Rep. Richard Farnsworth, D-Portland, agreed.

“We’re trying to build a community school,” said Farnsworth, noting that the school would be used for the next 50 years. “It’s more than a school building. We may need to stretch ourselves a little bit to make this a true community center.”

Another add-on is $343,000 for a larger cafeteria, so the school can hold two lunch periods a day instead of the current three, 20-minute lunch periods.

The plan is to build a new two-story building that doubles the 54,000 square feet of the current building, which is on Orono Road.

Several speakers, including about a half-dozen parents of Reiche Elementary School students, said they hoped the board and the City Council would support an even larger bond to improve other elementary schools. More than a dozen people in the audience wore orange stickers reading, “I support investing in our schools.”

The committee discussed, but rejected in a 6-3 vote, a motion by board member Laurie Davis to add another $964,500 to the proposal to add air conditioning to the building. Several speakers and board members said the cost was too high and any additional funds should go to priorities at other schools.

Every few years, the state issues a list of approved school building funding projects, triggering a yearslong, 21-step process.

The proposed opening for the Hall school replacement is September 2018.

Tuesday’s meeting was the first with new board chairwoman, Marnie Morrione.