PORTLAND — Portland officials are putting pressure on three city councilors whose votes effectively killed a proposal to build a new elementary school off Ocean Avenue with $19.6 million in state aid.

The city council voted 6-3 Monday to borrow the money, but it needed seven votes to pass. The state would have reimbursed the money.

Many city and school officials said they were shocked when Mayor Edward Suslovic and councilors David Marshall and Kevin Donoghue opposed the project.

Councilors James Cohen and Jill Duson sent e-mails to constituents today encouraging them to e-mail the three councilors to change their positions.

"I tried everything I could (to change their minds) last night and I'm not stopping," Cohen said.

Interim Superintendent Jeanne Whynot-Vickers issued a statement this afternoon encouraging the councilors to reconsider their votes and allow the project to proceed.

“That will allow us to continue with our long-range plans for improving elementary facilities and closing buildings that no longer meet our needs,” Whynot-Vickers said.

State Education Commissioner Susan Gendron said today that the city has until Sept. 12 to hold a successful referendum or it will lose the money.

The matter is dead unless one of the three councilors who prevailed in defeating the measure calls for reconsideration by the next council meeting on March 28, said Linda Cohen, city clerk.

Portland officials had planned to hold a referendum on the school project on June 10. The city has been planning for the project for three years.

The new school would be built where the former Baxter Elementary School stands off Ocean Avenue. It would replace the Clifford Elementary School, which would close.

Councilors who opposed the project faulted the process that was used to determine whether Clifford should close and the school district's lack of a comprehensive facilities plan.

Suslovic said today that the proposal lacks information about the true cost of the project and which other schools would close, among other things. He also said voters don't have enough data to make an informed decision.

"It's real easy to get people to vote for something if you withhold information," Suslovic sid.

Suslovic said he wouldn't reconsider his vote unless the information he seeks is provided.

He disputed claims that the $20 million from the state is "free money." He noted that Casco Bay High School and professional development incentives in the latest teachers' contract have far exceeded projected costs.

"I'm not against closing Nathan Clifford. I'm not against building a new school," said Suslovic, whose wife is president of the Clifford PTO. "I can't wait to vote for a good, solid plan."

Marshall said today that he wouldn't change his vote unless the proposal calls for a different site and a building consolidation plan.

"I feel it's the wrong decision to remove a school from a neighborhood that's in economic decline and move it to a neighborhood that's affluent," Marshall said. "I was elected to vote my conscience. I voted for what I think is best for the city."

Donoghue hasn't returned calls for comment today.

On Monday night, Donoghue said he opposed construction of a new elementary school that would increase student capacity without having a plan in place to close another elementary school.