LIVERMORE FALLS — Voters here and in Livermore will consider closing the Livermore Falls Middle School on Tuesday, May 10, at the polls.

Polls in Livermore Falls will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town office and in Livermore from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town office.

RSU 36 directors voted Feb. 7 to close the school due to lack of need.

The closure is expected to save $578,434.65, RSU 36 Superintendent Sue Pratt previously told the school board.

If the majority of voters in the two towns reject closing the school, taxpayers in Livermore and Livermore Falls would share the $578,434.65 cost to keep the school open and also contribute to the budget of the new RSU 73 consolidated school district.

Jay would not have to pay a share of the Livermore Falls school if voters in RSU 36 vote to keep it open.

The three towns will form a consolidated school system on July 1.

If Livermore and Livermore Falls voters decide to close the school, then middle school students would go to Jay Middle School, which is about 2 miles away. If they don’t vote to close the school, then the school remains open, Pratt previously said.

The $578,434.65 figure does not include teachers’ salaries, transportation or other factors, Pratt said.

The original school building was constructed in 1916 and was 19,500 square feet. A 14,406-square-foot gym was added in 1953, and an 11,232-square-foot addition, with the cafeteria and serving kitchen, was built in 1982.

If the school is closed, RSU 36 directors will consider what they want to do with the school. Options include giving the school back to Livermore Falls or using the gym portion of the building.

dperry@sunjournal.com