By MATT KIERNAN
Staff Writer
Published:
Friday, July 8, 2011 12:45 PM EDT
KENNEBUNK — Regional School Unit 21 and Wells-Ogunquit Community School District school board members brainstormed Thursday on the possibility of building a high school that would combine the two districts’ approximately 1,200-person student body.
The two boards considered the positives, negatives and unknowns.
“We don’t have data to make any decisions,” said Maureen King, RSU 21 school board member, at the meeting of the two boards.
Andrew Dolloff, superintendent of schools, said the cost of building a new school and purchasing land would be in the $60-65 million range, without any definite plans, while referring to an estimate by the Portland-based architectural company, Harriman Architects and Engineers.
Almost all of the factors that are necessary to begin such a consolidation are unknown, including construction costs, site location, student transportation costs and staffing.
Although the two districts would need a new school with a 1,200-student capacity, Dolloff said it would be best to have room for at least 1,400 students to accommodate the predicted growth in student numbers.
The boards are expected to have basic plans and rough costs to present to the public for discussion in the fall, according to Dolloff.
The idea comes as Kennebunk High School faces nearly $590,000 in renovations to its roof and asbestos abatement and considers a $35-40 million renovation of the school that would remodel KHS’ playing fields, relocate parking and improve the building itself. The RSU 21 building committee is receiving prices from Harriman Associates for the designs.
read the complete story @ http://www.journaltribune.com/articles/2011/07/08/news/doc4e1732be85818573629495.txt
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