PARIS — School Superintendent Rick Colpitts told the Oxford Hills School District Board of Directors Monday night that if the $1 million-plus funding to remove mold from the Otisfield Elementary School is not approved by voters next week, it will cost the district much more money in the long run to resolve the problem.

“It comes down to the issue of cost,” Colpitts said of the mold and moisture problem in the walls of the 20-year-old school. Tests have confirmed that there is mold throughout the walls of the school from the interior of the Sheetrock to the brick exterior walls, but that it is contained. The building is considered safe for the students and staff to remain in at this time, school officials said.

Officials believe the problem was caused by several factors including moisture coming into the interior of the exterior walls from the roof and leaking windows. Officials also believe the blockage of exterior foundation weep holes by dirt caused in part by poor grading, contributed to the problem. School officials say some of the problem has been resolved by recent drainage work, but the mold remains on the inside of the walls and even studs and will continue to grow if not removed.

Voters will be asked in a referendum question on June 14 to approve the plan to fund the $1,012,659 Otisfield Community School project through state renovation loans, market rate bonds and district capital reserve for the Otisfield School air quality project.

If approved, the district will borrow $793,993 through the state’s Revolving Renovation Fund program. The state would pick up $405,492 of the loan while the district will pay $388,500 at zero interest. The district will also issue bonds for $156,666 and use $62,000 in the capital reserve fund that voters already established.

Colpitts said there are no viable alternatives to the $1 million mold removal project. Enrollment figures indicate that none of the other elementary schools could accommodate the students from the Otisfield school, nor would renting space be an alternative because that would cost more for an indefinite period of time while the Otisfield school would still have to be heated and maintained even if empty.

“We really don’t have a place to put them in the district without renovations or long-term rentals,” he said.

Although the public hearing that was held to inform voters about the funding request Monday failed to attract any public participation, the information did elicit some questions about previous liability issues from the Board of Directors.

School board members questioned why the original contractor was not liable for the problem but were told that the contractor has long been out of business and that its liability ended when the project was completed. They also asked for assurance that the material being used would not be susceptible to moisture and mold problems.

If the voters refuse to approve the funding Colpitts said he will have to talk to the Operations Committee about a backup plan that would most likely have to include “significant money” to either lease or rent space somewhere. It would also mean the loss of state aid on the project.

“It makes a lot of sense to go ahead with the repairs with the bonds being offered by the state,” Colpitts said.

Voters will also be asked on June 14 to approve a second referendum question that requests an additional $105,680 to ensure that elementary schools in Harrison, Norway and Waterford are in compliance with handicap accessibility laws.

The three projects include $35,000 at the Harrison Elementary School to build a handicapped ramp and add automatic doors. The Waterford Elementary School will have a $19,000 project to install a ramp and automatic doors. The Rowe Elementary School in Norway will have a $51,686 project to replace doorknobs throughout the building with levers and install automatic doors for handicap accessibility.

The state would pick up 51 percent of the $100,178 loan but the district will have to repay 48.9 percent at zero interest.

Colpitts said both questions will require a yes or no answer.

ldixon@sunjournal.com