CHELSEA -- Residents Tuesday night overwhelmingly favored the initial site plans for a new building to house Chelsea Elementary School.

In a straw poll vote, residents in attendance voted 52-1 in favor of the plan to put the school on a 17-acre property on Route 226, which was formerly federal property at the Togus veterans hospital.

State board of education members will next have the opportunity to approve the plans. If those officials offer their approval, the school district can move forward with more detailed plans for the structure and hold another straw poll for residents.

The school offers multiple facility upgrades from the current building, including more classroom space and a separate gymnasium and cafeteria. Superintendent Frank Boynton estimates the price tag will be approximately $14 million. He said he hopes the state will assume the cost.

"We're looking forward to moving the plan forward from here," Boynton said.