When the polls open Tuesday, residents of Standish will be voting not only on statewide questions but on a SAD 6 referendum as well.

This referendum asks voters to authorize the SAD 6 Board of Directors to install a sprinkler system at Bonny Eagle High School. The system would be funded through a Revolving Renovation Fund Loan of $500,000 and secured by bonds.

With a five-year repayment schedule at a zero percent interest rate, the $500,000 loan would cover the cost of outfitting the entire building with the sprinklers. As the Department of Education estimates that about 57 percent will be forgiven, the District would be responsible for repayment of about 43 percent, or approximately $214,000.

Although it is not a requirement to retrofit the entire school with the sprinklers, the 2004 special education wing addition does not meet Standish code because of the absence of the system, which became an issue a few months ago.

This fall, the Standish Town Council approved a temporary occupancy permit for the new addition with the provision that the District install the system in that wing by Sept. 1, 2006. Since much of the expense of that new system involves installing the 20,000-gallon water storage tank and the 24,000-gallon capacity cistern, the District believes it is appropriate to retrofit the entire school with the system at the same time.

The project will begin in 2006. Sprinklers in the new wing will be operational by the beginning of that school year and the entire process completed by the end of the summer of 2007.

According to SAD 6 Superintendent Suzanne Lukas, the timing is right to apply for the state loan.

“Right now, the Revolving Renovation Funds are available to the District,” she said. “We don’t know if they will be in the future. It’s advantageous to apply and use these funds at this time.”

If the referendum is defeated in Tuesday’s election, the District still must come up with the money to add the sprinklers to the new section.

The polls at the George E. Jack School on Route 35 will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

And, said Girl Scout troop leader Debbie Bondeson, when people come to vote, they can help others. As a service project, the Brownie and Girl Scout Troop Number 1762 will have a designated area for residents to bring donations of canned goods and other non-perishable foods. All donations will benefit an area food pantry.