WATERVILLE -- City and school officials have discussed investing in a $15 million renovation of Waterville Senior High School.

Tuesday night the City Council took the first step in upgrading the 46-year-old building by voting unanimously to borrow more than $500,000 through a federal low-interest loan program.

Waterville School Superintendent Eric L. Haley said the program -- The Qualified Zone Academy Bond -- calls for spending at least 10 percent of the money the first year and all of it within five years.

School officials plan to use about $124,000 this summer to renovate two sets of bathrooms in the high school -- one in the school lobby, the other by the gymnasium.

The school also needs new windows, an air exchange system, upgraded science laboratories and athletic areas and new seats and lighting for Trask Auditorium, according to school officials.

Waterville previously borrowed $965,000 through the same federal program to finish construction of George J. Mitchell School. Haley said the city paid an interest rate of 1 1/2 percent on that loan.

Renovating high schools is nothing new in this area. Winslow recently completed a $9 million facelift of its high school -- $6 million of which was financed locally.

Charles F. Stubbert, D-Ward 1, was one of the six councilors -- City Councilor Henry E. Beck, D-Ward 2, was absent -- to support the move but only after he asked Haley two questions.

Stubbert first wondered how a $15 million investment in Waterville Senior High School might be effected if the city's school system becomes part of a consolidated school district.

Waterville had been in talks with School Administrative District 47 (Oakland, Belgrade, Sidney and Rome) and School Union 52 (Winslow, China, Vassalboro) on forming a regional school unit, only to pull out late last year.

Haley said he was uncertain over the financial implications of consolidation on a $15 million school renovation.

But he made clear he is no fan of the state's consolidation initiative.

"What we are talking about in many instances," he said, "is schools getting costs pushed onto them by joining these RSUs."

Stubbert also asked whether school officials considered building a new Waterville Senior High School.

Haley said that had not been considered but added that "with the renovations we are talking about making, we would have the equivalent (of a new high school)."

Colin Hickey -- 861-9205

chickey@centralmaine.com