Tabor Academy is hoping to break ground on a new dormitory in the fall, and on Tuesday, Selectmen approved a sewer extension that brings the project one step closer to that goal.

The new dorm will be between Front Street and Spring Street and house 24 to 26 students and three families.

According to Head of School John Quirk, the purpose of the building is to reorganize housing rather than increase the school population.

“We have no plans to get any bigger,” said Quirk. “We do have plans to organize ourselves better.”

Moving students to the new dorm will free up space in other houses for faculty families and increase common space for students.

Quirk said the school has worked hard to become more sustainable.

Regarding the sewers, the academy’s usage is down 28 percent from a baseline set in 2001 when the town’s sewer plan was updated. Even adding a nearly 15,000 square foot facility will leave the school 19.5 percent below the 2001 number, said architect Will Saltonstall.

“No matter what capacity comes back to us, it’s our intention to do better and better and better all the time,” said Quirk.

Highway Surveyor Rob Zora commended Quirk's efforts.

“He’s done a great job of getting the flows down and repairing the leaks,” said Zora.

Selectmen unanimously approved the sewer extension. The Planning Board also recently determined that the building project would not require a site plan review.

Saltonstall said building permits still need to be applied for before construction begins. If all goes well, the first students will move in September 2015.