KENNEBUNK — The RSU 21 Board of Directors
has supported a Master Facilities Plan to renovate and improve three of
the district's schools while merging two elementary schools.
During
its Monday, Sept. 12 meeting, the board voted in support of the
facilities plan — the culmination of two years of review by the
Facilities Committee and a district-wide facilities study with the
Harriman Architectural and Engineering Firm — as well as a 10-year
enrollment projection conducted by Planning Decisions, Inc.
"To implement this master plan will require a
significant investment by our communities. We believe that the current
market, with lower financing rates and lower construction costs than
have been experienced for some time, is an exceptional time to invest in
our facilities," said Director Jack Reetz during Monday's meeting. "To
push these projects back several more years will be to risk further
dilapidation of these structures, as well as increase the potential for
entering a more costly construction and financing climate than currently
exists."
In adopting the plan, Superintendent
Andrew Dolloff said the board is not committing to spending any money,
but is stating its support of the plan's vision and intent.
As
written in the facilities plan, voters could see a proposal to renovate
Kennebunk High School in 2012. Current estimates are between $32
million and $40 million for the project which would include renovation
of existing portions of the building as well as demolition and new
construction of others. There would also be expanded on-site parking,
eliminating the parking on Fletcher Street.
The
plan recommends keeping at least one elementary school in each town,
while ensuring the buildings have useful extended lives of at least
another 20 years.
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