Construction Begins in Summer of 2009

The city of Portland has chosen Ledgewood Construction Co. to build Ocean Avenue Elementary School.

Baxter Elementary School, located on the site, is being torn down in the summer of 2009 and construction will begin on the building of the new school.

See photos and read updates about the building project.

Curriculum materials related to the Ocean Avenue School project.

Ocean Avenue Elementary School Project Advances

The State Board of Education voted on March 11, 2009 to give final approval for state funding of the new Ocean Avenue Elementary School in Portland. The state will pay for all but $60,000 of the $20 million construction costs.

State Delays Issuing Bonds for Portland Elementary School

The schedule for construction of Portland’s new Ocean Avenue elementary school is on track despite a delay in state bonding for the project. The Maine Department of Education has delayed bonding for 12 school construction projects, including the one in Portland, in order to shift more money to state aid for general educational programming. As a result, the Portland bonds will be issued in October 2009, about six months later than originally scheduled. The school still is expected to open in time for the 2011 school year.

Voters Approve Bond Funding

On June 10, 2008, Portland voters approved a $19.7 million bond referendum to fund construction of the Ocean Avenue elementary school. The state will reimburse Portland for all but $60,000 of the construction costs. The referendum was approved on a vote of 7,080, or 69.1 percent to 3,166, or 30.9 percent.