MONEY FROM STATE FOR BOTH MEMORIAL, RUSSELL RENOVATION NOT LIKELY
Board discusses building one new school instead
BY ELIZABETH SALVETTI

The SAD #15 Board of Directors struggled with some tough realities at the March 20 meeting. The Board heard that it may be necessary to revise their plan to renovate both Memorial and Russell Schools and focus on building one new school instead.

 

With the SAD’s debt ratio declining, within very few years this type of project would require more money from the local taxpayers.

The State review team visits each of the over one hundred applicants and rates the projects according to four criteria, condition of buildings, ability of building to support curriculum, future enrollment, and how many temporary classrooms are being used. Although the buildings are obviously deteriorating, the fact that predicted enrollments are flat for the next decade and there is currently only one temporary classroom being used at Memorial plays negatively against the District’s chances.

Fewer than 20 projects of the The State has receive 111 applications. Fewer than 20 will be funded. The successful applicants will know by May 15. "They said that if they don’t see the plan as economical for the State of Maine taxpayers, it is not as likely to get funding," Wood said. "They see that building one new school is more economical than completely renovating two." He said that the Team asked if the Board would consider changing the current application to one project, constructing a new elementary school, instead of renovating two old ones.

Memorial Elementary School in New Gloucester and Russell Elementary in Gray have deteriorated to an almost unrecoverable point. The SAD has produced a video which shows the rotted window frames, crowded offices and classrooms, infrastructure problems, and issues with radon, asbestos, insulation, and electrical, fire, and other code violations.

"The review team was very clear that both buildings need to be demolished. The State was also concerned that the SAD’s commitment to maintaining its buildings is not evident. They said they may insist on a 2% replacement value reserve fund to ensure maintaining the life of all the SAD’s buildings," Wood said. He recommended to the Board that they revise the application to construct one new school. "It behooves the Board to look at the reality," he said.

Board member Jim Hutchinson asked about the cost of acquiring land for a new school. Wood replied that the District already owns 35 acres of land in New Gloucester next to Dunn Elementary School. He said, "Envision Dunn becoming a K-2 school, and the new school a 3-5 school constructed in close proximity to Dunn." Wood cited several cost savings factors such as "Fewer Administrators, less staff, lower plowing costs, one cafeteria, one library to stock, and the educational bonus of having all first grade teachers etc. in one building." He was also pleased with the idea that the new school could become a true community school, as Dunn has.

Board member Carmel Morin said he was "totally opposed to the one school set up." He cited longer bus rides, increased wear and tear on the busses, and distances involved in travel for the West Gray children. He was also concerned that the State Evaluation team from the Department of Education is espousing a philosophy that is not balanced with the State Planning Office’s (SPO) philosophy. The Review team’s approach to building a new school in the suburbs encourages sprawl, which is opposite to the SPO’s philosophy of smaller, neighborhood schools in downtowns to withstand sprawl, he said. "And what happens to the old buildings?" Morin asked.

The State evaluation team made no promises about the likelihood of funding with either scenario. The financial upshot is that the estimated cost of the two school renovation would be about 12.5 million dollars. The one school construction would be about 7 million dollars. If the State does not approve funding, the cost of renovating the two schools would fall to the local taxpayers in its entirety. At 12.5 million, that loosely calculates to a yearly increase of $350 in taxes of just the school construction alone, not including any other SAD 15 budget increases. The Board will discuss the proposal again at its April 3 Board meeting and vote on the application. The Board wants to hear from the community. Board Chair Sarah McCleary encouraged all concerned citizens to attend the meeting on April 3, or call or e-mail the members.