GORHAM – Gorham officials are facing what to do with a pair of aging, former schools that need millions of dollars in repair.

Norm Justice, director of the facilities department for Gorham schools, told town councilors in a workshop Tuesday the vacant, half-century-old White Rock School and the nearly 60-year-old former Little Falls School each needed about $2 million in repairs. His figures were based on restoration as schools.

“It was a bit of an eye opener,” Gorham Town Manager David Cole said following Tuesday’s workshop regarding potential capital improvement projects.

The Gorham Town Council will face decisions on any re-use or disposition of both old schools. The council took no action Tuesday.

The School Department on June 30 will hand over to the town the White Rock School, built in 1962, on North Gorham Road. The new Great Falls Elementary school, which opened in September, replaced need for the White Rock School. The school department is now utilizing the old school for storage.

The former Little Falls School, which Justice said was built in 1956, is on Acorn Street and now sees short-term use as the Activity Center at Little Falls School. It houses Gorham Recreation Department programs, including before- and after-school day care. The Lakes Region Senior Center also meets in the building.

“All systems have far exceeded their useful lives,” Justice said about Little Falls School.

Earlier this month, the Town Council authorized spending $10,000 for a feasibility study by PDT Architects about future re-use of Little Falls School. Under one scenario, Gorham could locate its police department to the building in a move to alleviate cramped space in the Public Safety Building on Main Street.

Cole said a town study a few years ago pegged costs of revamping the Little Falls School as a fire station at $7.3 million.

According to town tax assessment records, Gorham values White Rock School at $2 million. The school sits on 10.4 acres and is served by a septic system and a well, which Justice said is licensed as a public water system.

The town values Little Falls School at $1.4 million. It’s located on a 6.5-acre site and the area has public water and sewer.

Justice doesn’t believe it would make sense for the town to invest money to salvage the old schools.

Both schools would require new roofs and, he said, roofing at White Rock School is potentially critical. “The roofing system has been problematic for a number of years,” Justice said.

During a workshop recess, Justice said a new roof at the White Rock School would cost $120,000. And the Little Falls School would need to be re-roofed within one or two years at a cost of $100,000.

Electrical and mechanical systems need work. “We’re limping along right now,” Justice said.

Justice didn’t have demolition costs for the buildings. He said both old schools contain asbestos.

“It has to be dealt with,” Justice said.

Both school sites have playgrounds and recreation fields. Town Councilor Suzanne Phillips said options could include selling the buildings but retaining some of the land.

Philip Gagnon, vice chairman of the Town Council, had concerns about general maintenance of other town buildings, including Robie Gym, Baxter Memorial Library and the municipal center. Gagnon cited peeling paint and pillars showing rot.

In another workshop discussion, Cindy Hazelton, director of Gorham Recreation Department, said the town needed an additional baseball diamond that would likely cost $175,000 to $200,000 for a natural grass field. Hazelton also said reconfiguring a road to the perimeter of the 25-acre Little Falls recreation area would allow more recreation space. Relocating the road could cost an estimated $250,000.

In town road issues, Robert Burns, director of Public Works, cited need of repairs for local roads and two bridges – one on Wescott Road and another on Longfellow Road.

Cole said the town budgeted about $350,000 for road repair this year. Capital needed for fixing up roads has been an issue the council has struggled with in recent years.

“We’re falling behind on the road maintenance curve,” Burns said.

Town Councilor Michael Phinney said people don’t want the town to increase taxes.

“Right now, we’re in bad times,” Phinney said.