Augusta's New School Construction Project

Augusta has a unique opportunity to invest in the future of our elementary students through a State-Funded School Construction Project.

Hussey Elementary School has served generations of Augusta children and families. However, the building is aging and is expected to reach the point where it will need to close in the next few years.

The proposed project will expand Farrington Elementary School to create the space needed to bring all East Side elementary students together under one roof, while creating new opportunities for all students across Augusta.

Learn More About the Project

These two short videos provide an overview of the proposed Farrington Elementary School project, including what the project is, why it is being proposed, and where things stood as of June 2026. Together, they provide helpful background as we move toward the November 3, 2026 local referendum vote.

Fall 2025 Update

Fall 2026 Update

Explore the Proposed Concept & Design

Want to see what the proposed Farrington Elementary School could look like? This presentation provides an overview of the proposed concept, design, layout, and key features of the project.

Project Budget & Funding

The proposed project has a total cost of $53,571,590. This is a 100% state-funded school construction project, meaning there is no local cost to Augusta taxpayers for the project.

The November 3 referendum is part of the process for authorizing the project and its financing. The project would be funded through a bond, with the State of Maine providing the funding to cover the bond payments over a 20-year period.

Review the budget and funding information below to learn more about how the project would be financed.

Click to View the Project Budget

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about the proposed Farrington Elementary School project? This section provides answers to some of the most common questions about the project, proposed design, funding, timeline, and November 3 referendum.

Our goal is to make the information easy to understand and give community members the information they need to make an informed decision.

Understanding the Hussey School Closure

Funding and Cost

Why Farrington?

The Referendum

The 21-Step Project Process

The November 3 referendum is one pivotal step in a much larger process to plan, design, approve, and ultimately build the proposed Farrington Elementary School.

The graphic to the right shows the 21 steps involved in the state-funded school construction process, where we are today, and what steps are still ahead. Explore the graphic to see how the referendum fits into the larger project and what comes next.

Click the link above to view larger and enable zoom features

Building Committee Expansion Members:

Martha Witham

Building Committee Board Member

Susan Parks

Building Committee Board Member

Mayor O'Brien

The Mayor or a City Councilor

James Orr

Building Committee Board Member

Mike Tracy

Superintendent

Matt Nazar

City Staff Member

Ginny Shannon

East Side Parent

Krista Neal

West Side Parent

Shelby Thibodeau

School Administrator

Rita Pello

Building Committee Board Member

Jon Stonier

Director of Building & Grounds

Emily Pease

Teacher

History of Meetings and Presentations:

District Background

Augusta School Department consists of primarily students from Augusta, with tuition students from Chelsea, Jefferson, Somerville, South China, Vassalboro, Whitefield and Windsor. The total student population of the five schools is 2,160 students with 420 faculty and staff. The district consists of five school buildings:

Augusta Facilities Assessment