The Portland School Board is holding a special meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. to vote on formally sending a nearly $61 million elementary school bond to the City Council for its review. The agenda for the meeting is now available on the school district’s website.

The meeting will be held in Room 200 at Casco Bay High School, located at 196 Allen Ave. The Buildings for Our Future bond proposal was endorsed Jan. 19 by the School Facilities Ad Hoc Committee and calls for significant upgrades to four of the city’s elementary schools – Longfellow, Lyseth, Presumpscot and Reiche.

“After careful study and consideration, the School Facilities Ad Hoc Committee came to the conclusion that this $61 million investment is what is needed for the (capital investment) these schools critically need,” Xavier Botana, the superintendent of schools said in a press release announcing Tuesday’s speciall meeting.

“However, the committee’s decision is only the first step. The school board must now vote on accepting the bond proposal and referring it to the City Council’s Finance Committee, and the final decision on what bond amount will go to voters rests with the full City Council,” Botana added.

“I encourage all Portland community members – parents, staff and other taxpayers – to continue to stay involved and make their voices heard regarding this important decision on the future of our city’s schools.”