Weymouth school officials have taken the first step toward deciding whether to continue to maintain the Maria Weston Chapman Middle School, or replace it. Either option will cost the town millions of dollars, officials said.

The School Committee voted unanimously at its last meeting to form a subcommittee to investigate whether it’s worth putting more money into the 51-year-old building. Mayor Susan Kay, who sits on the School Committee, suggested the study after learning that the school needs about $8 million in repairs — $7 million of it to get rid of an exterior coating that was applied to prevent old asbestos-laden paint from getting into the air.