A Telegram investigation following a recent criminal case reveals how inadequate Maine’s system is in ensuring that teachers are properly certified or that mandatory background checks have been done.

In August, local officials discovered that a budgeting error made in 2015 left the district with a shortfall of about $700,000 this year.

While many steps remain, 60 local voters supported buying the land in a straw poll, another move toward replacing the more than 100-year-old school currently in use.

While this committee met for the final time, the superintendent said, a new building committee will tackle how to expand the high school and at what cost.

Recent results from water samples taken at Benton Elementary School show levels were more than 30 times the allowable level at one faucet.