Portland school officials will make a presentation and hold a straw poll tonight on the possible construction of a new elementary school in Portland.

State and local school officials are reviewing possible construction of the school on the existing Baxter School site at 150 Ocean Ave.

The new school would replace Clifford Elementary School and would be funded with $18 million from the Maine Department of Education.

Major state-funded school construction projects require site approval from the State Board of Education.

The board requires communities to record the results of a non-binding straw poll to help gauge public opinion about a new school's location, according to Interim Superintendent Jeanne Whynot-Vickers.

A second straw poll is planned for early next year, before the school district submits a concept design to the state.

The presentation and vote are scheduled for 6:30 at Baxter School.