Stonington - The Board of Finance unanimously recommended Tuesday night that the proposed $69 million project to upgrade the town's aging elementary schools be sent to a referendum vote in late April.

The board's vote, which came on top of the Board of Selectmen's support of the project last week, means the 20-year-long effort to renovate and expand the schools will finally be sent to voters.

The plan calls for expanding and renovating West Vine Street School and Deans Mill School and closing 116-year old West Broad Street School. After state reimbursement the project would cost $52.3 million, which would be bonded over 20 years.

"What you're getting is two brand new elementary schools, pre-kindergarten through fifth grade," K-12 School Building Committee Chairman Rob Marseglia told the finance board. "This project is designed to be viable for the next 50 years. That's why this investment now will pay off for the town in the long run."

If nothing is done to upgrade the schools, it is estimated that it would cost the town $25 million over the next 20 years to make repairs to the buildings. West Vine Street and Deans Mill schools were built as 24,300-square-foot sister schools in 1967.

"These building are tired and they need work," Marseglia said.

The plans calls for expanding West Vine Street School to 58,000 square feet and Deans Mill School to 60,500 square feet. The project would be completed in 2019.

While the building committee had considered other options including building a new middle school, Marseglia said the town will have to undertake a future study to look at the needs of the middle schools.

While he called the plan a great project that is much needed, finance board chairman Glenn Frishman said voters have to know the impact of it on the town budget and their tax bills. It is estimated that the debt will be result in a slightly more than 1-mill tax rate hike over the 20 years.

Marseglia said that information about the project will be presented to residents at a series of community meetings this month. They are slated for Monday at Mystic Middle School, March 23 at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, March 25 at the Stonington Community Center and March 30 at the Pawcatuck Middle School. A sixth forum is still being finalized. All the meetings will begin at 7 p.m.

"Our job is not done. Our next step is to take this to the town," Marseglia said. "Our hope is that they'll say this project is worth the investment because we get so much for it."

j.wojtas@theday.com

Twitter: @joewojtas