SANFORD — Tests to determine whether a geothermal heating and cooling plant will work at Sanford’s new high school and technical center and whether a black racer snake might be present on the proposed building site are among a myriad of tasks on the horizon as the school department and building committee forge ahead with planning for the $80-$100 million school.

Superintendent of Schools David Theoharides provided an update of the school construction project in an emailed report earlier this week. The report outlines next steps and the next community briefing, which is set for 6 p.m. March 18 in the council chambers at City Hall.

He said a community straw poll is anticipated sometime in March as well.

As to the racer snake, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has requested the site be surveyed for black racer snake habitat, even though previous surveys have come back negative, Theoharides said. As well, two appraisals of the proposed school property, which is off Main Street ”“ in general terms behind VIP Auto and stretching to near the Center for Shopping ”“ have been received, and now the group will meet with the landowner to determine a selling price.

The new complex will serve both Sanford students and technical school students from seven high schools.

Sanford won approval from the state education department for a new, integrated technical center and high school in 2010 to replace the 1970 Sanford High School that is ringed by a dozen portable classrooms.

While the state will pay for most of the project, if the community wants to add items, it will have to pay for them. Theoharides said Lavallee-Bresinger Architects has been working with a cost estimator to provide a more detailed account of the actual costs to the community for a performing arts center and athletic fields. Once that happens, a subcommittee that has been looking at enhancements will be called together to try and determine the degree of community support.

Theoharides and project manager Lance Whitehead of Lavallee-Bresinger was scheduled to meet with the Maine Department of Education Facilities and Construction staff to review the proposed building layout and overall square footage.

“The state DOE has strict guidelines on the number of square feet of construction that they will pay for,” he said. “The proposed layout fits within the state guidelines for classroom and technical school spaces.”

Whitehead was scheduled to meet with each Sanford Regional Technical Center program director and each high school department to review room layout for lab and classroom spaces.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.