The Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD Board of Trustees welcomed new member Troy Lewis on Wednesday, June 6. Boothbay Region Elementary School Assistant Principal Tricia Campbell updated the board on  the new playground planned to be installed and ready before the first day of school.

The equipment for the structures has been ordered and will ship in six to eight weeks, Campbell said. She reported the only snag the project has hit is the cost of the fencing that was planned to be installed. The cost was going to be $20,000 just for the fence.

“We stepped away from surrounding the entire playground area because the cost was just astronomical. We said, 'So, what if we put in a boundary marker, a safety line ...?'”

The estimate for that is just over $15,500.

With equipment, mulch and installation fees of $33,037, the total cost will be $48,608. Donations and grants total $43,037, so the project is short $5,571.

Campbell said the fence is not required, but teachers and parents have shown concern the three-foot fencing in back of the tennis courts could be a potential hazard. The board joined Campbell at the site to look at the existing tennis court fencing and the markers Campbell and Facilities and Transportation Director Dave Benner positioned.

The trustees mostly agreed a fence may not be needed if an angled attachment was installed to make climbing over a serious challenge if not impossible. Campbell explained the estimate for that turned out to be more than simply removing and replacing the fencing with a taller apparatus. Trustee Ronnie Campbell suggested if the fencing poses a safety risk as is, the board might be able to look elsewhere to cover the cost of adding the angled attachment as a separate issue from the project.

The trustees continued wandering the site and suggested a few changes to the perimeter may be more inclusive and cut down on fence length and costs.

Said Campbell, “We are looking at and considering alternative plans and options if we are unable to find the needed funds.”

Benner announced an interview process for the new school security officer job. Three applicants, all from the Boothbay region, were chosen to be interviewed and Benner said he is excited to bring someone on for such an important role in the schools.

Trustees elected Richard Hallinan chair, Steve Lorrain vice-chair, and Ashlee Lowery treasurer. As in past years, the board authorized the superintendent and treasurer to secure a bank loan of no more than $400,000 as a security measure.

“This is something we've done every year in the past," said trustee Kevin Anthony. "It's kind of an emergency thing that the superintendent can use if the superintendent needs to. To my knowledge, we've never needed to."

The board  meets next at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 20.