UNITY - The Unity School Board is asking voters to approve an additional loan of $350,000 to complete the new Unity Elementary School building.

The loan is being put before voters at the annual school district meeting on March 23.

A parent forum to discuss the loan as well as the construction problems is planned for Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. at the old elementary school building.

Principal Chip Baldwin said the forum is to update parents on the project's progress. Site work and construction problems that have plagued the project and required a redesign triggered the need for additional funds, he said.

"Originally this year we expected to be in the building in October. ... It seems to be going later and later, so parents are anxious to find out when we are going to be in the building," Baldwin said.

The Unity School District is part of SAU 6, which serves the communities of Claremont, Cornish and Unity.

Voters approved a $4.7 million bond to build the new school for Unity children from kindergarten through eighth grade at an August 2010 special meeting. The vote came after state officials ordered Unity Elementary School closed due to numerous unresolved fire and building code violations.

Architect Scott Vaughn is opening the school up for a tour on March 16 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and March 23 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.