Dear Editor:

Let’s go back to the last five years. The CSD Board of Trustees send our RFQs (Request for Qualifications) to do energy upgrades to the elementary school. We were having boiler problems/heat loss. We received only two responses to the RFQ. We chose Honeywell, as we had been working with them. They knew our systems and we felt comfortable with them. The bond was $5 million over 20 years. Long story short, it passed. We also had a new entrance built at the elementary school and other small upgrades.

Immediately after the bond, some visioning meetings were held. Through this, the board needed to assess the existing buildings. This list was long. After many, many years of “kicking the can down the road,” we wore out the can and were at the end of the road.

Early 2019, the board was in the process of sending RFQs to look into a formal Existing Conditions Report (ECR) that could be brought to both towns to start the conversation on the status of our schools. The board was going ahead with the Existing Conditions Report using “taxpayer money,” probably $70,000 to $100,000. At our next regular meeting, we were informed that a group of local citizens, businesses would like to help by having a luncheon and raise the ECR money. More money that we thought was raised, the board was informed. The full CSD and trustees met together and voted to accept the donation. We were told at the time this was “no strings attached” and to spend it to our best advantage.

The boards were told that some donors wished to remain anonymous. I don’t think there is any “secret cabal,” no hidden agenda. I use his name here. I personally have never met Paul Coulombe or any of his “minions,” but some have chosen to turn his/their interest in the project into something ugly and dark.

I have been involved from the beginning and will see it to the end. If the citizens want to fix and repair the existing buildings, that’s fine with me. If it is replacement, that’s fine also. Everyone gets a vote. Be informed, go to the meetings. It doesn’t cost anything to “pay attention.”

Steven Lorrain

Chairman, Board of Trustees

B.E.C. Committee