Cape Elizabeth voters took to the high school on Tuesday to cast their ballots, which included a highly debated $94.7 million school bond and a six-way race for three seats on the Town Council. Drew Johnson / Sentry

Cape Elizabeth rejected by fewer than 200 votes a $94.7 million proposal to build a new middle school, conduct renovations and additions at the elementary school, renovations at the high school and preserve or repurpose the town’s original school, built in 1934.

“Overall I am heartened by the extremely close vote on the Middle Ground school project design. We came within 166 votes of building the first new school in Cape in over 50 years,” Superintendent Chris Record wrote in a statement to the Sentry. The vote to defeat the measure was 3,448 to 3,282.

Of the $94.7 million, $88.9 million was allocated for the three schools and the remaining $4.8 million would have gone toward the 1934 building, which is currently part of the middle school.

The 51% to 49% vote against underscores how divisive the new school debate has been in town in recent years. While the majority of residents believe the town’s schools are in need of a hefty investment, some have opposed the cost, debated whether a new school should be part of the project and favored other options that were considered.

Those in favor of the project argued a new middle school is the most fiscally responsible investment and would do more to meet the district’s educational needs in the present and future.

“It is clear we made great progress in helping Cape citizens understand the very real needs of our schools and the multiple benefits of building a new middle school for our students and staff,” Record said. “We will get right back to work to find a solution to address our very serious safety and security needs, antiquated and limited classrooms, extremely aged HVAC systems, the significant limitations of our shared Pond Cove and CEMS cafetorium, the lack of adequate and appropriate learning space for special education and our robust music program, and multiple other serious issues that impact students and staff every day.”

The plan was derived from 18 months of work from the School Building Advisory Committee, whose members voted 5-4 to recommend a $77.3 million plan for just renovations and additions at the three schools. The four members in opposition favored a $114.5 million plan that included a new middle school. The school board received presentations from the split committee and developed the $88.9 million proposal. The Town Council tacked on an additional $4.8 million for the 1934 building.

“I have deep respect for the citizens of Cape and recognize this much-needed school construction project requires an investment of tax dollars,” Record said. “I hope the people of Cape will continue to be open in learning more about our school needs and will support our revised design solution.”