Ernest Nickerson casts his vote Tuesday at Sabattus Town Hall as Natalie Sanford, the town’s tax collector, watches the polls and gets some knitting done. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

WALES — Voters in Regional School Unit 4 have approved the closure of Sabattus Primary School in a referendum by a more than 2-to-1 margin.

Voters were asked to vote yes to close the school, or no to keep it open. The measure passed 329-151.

All three towns voted in favor of closure: Litchfield 138-45; Sabattus 112-71; and Wales 79-35.

Under state law, all three communities needed to vote against the closure for the school to remain open, while a single affirmative vote would lead to its closure.

With the closure, RSU 4 will serve kindergarten and first-grade students at Libby-Tozier School, while prekindergarten, second, third and fourth-grade students will go to Carrie Ricker School. Both schools are in Litchfield.

According to the RSU 4 board, the change will streamline resources and improve educational programming. There will be no reduction in teaching staff, educational technicians or specialists, according to the board, which added it anticipates improved bus travel times for students.

Keeping Sabattus Primary School open would have cost the district $358,076. A June 2022 report by Siemens estimated nearly $5 million was needed in upgrades to meet the state public school standards and guidelines for school construction and major renovation projects.

According to school documents, the original building was constructed in 1953.

The RSU 4 board of directors announced last month that it was actively preparing timelines and plans to ensure the buildings, staff and students are ready for the next school year if the vote results in closure.