Current Progress at the New School

In 2020 the Board of Directors put a hold on the primary school project due to the uncertainty of the pandemic. The hold lasted until October of 2020 when it was then decided by the Board to abandon the plan to build a school behind the community center. A search for another location began shortly after. This search yielded the land next to the campus. The Board approved an option agreement with the abutter. A design was commissioned and completed however, the MDOT advised the Town of Cumberland that this plan would require extensive changes to Main Street and Tuttle Rd in Cumberland.

In August 2021 a joint meeting of all three boards concluded in significant opposition given that the MDOT was requiring to Main Street such as extra lanes, etc.

In September 2021 the district ran another ad to see what opportunities for alternative land would be available in the two communities. This search yielded a signed option agreement with Ben Grover for the 80 Gray Rd property. This led to the design of a third school building.

In November 2022 the school building project was sent to the voters in Cumberland and North Yarmouth. The referendum failed.

In 2023 Mabel I. Wilson school enrollment was at a total of 763 students (213 above capacity).

In June 2023 an RFP was sent out for land in the two communities.

In July 2023 voters approved purchasing the 2.3 acres of abutting land to the campus. A site plan was conducted to definitively determine if a school building could be placed on the property or not. This exercise confirmed that a small school building of approx. 65,000 sqf could conceivably be built if other improvements were made to traffic patterns, parking capacity, and play space on campus. 

In November 2023 Superintendent Porter recommended to the Board of Directors that a on-campus school project be fully vetted, given the many benefits of such a plan.

In June 2024 the two communities approved the school and campus plan at the polls. 

Ground Breaking Ceremony June 12, 2025