Maintenance and repair issues in the Boothbay Region Elementary School building were aired at the Community School District Board of Trustees’ May 2 meeting. Trustees discussed the need for quick action to keep the 1977 building safe and operational for students. 

Director of Facilities Dave Benner said progress has been made on BRES projects and he complimented the crews making the repairs. He said flood damage demolition and painting are mostly complete, and the gym floor has been installed, sanded and sealed and should be complete this month.

“If there’s a shining light in the school right now, I think it’s the gym,” Benner said.

However, he also reported several maintenance issues that raised concerns about cost among the trustees, who unanimously approved their portion of the $9.5 million 2024 CSD budget. The repair costs are not covered in the budget and need to be dealt with separately. 

Benner presented a bag of metal particles that came out of an eight-foot section of black iron pipe in the dry sprinkler system during routine maintenance. The material could cause issues if the system is activated, he said.   

Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Robert Kahler said the building is safe for students and the fire systems have passed inspection and comply with code. 

Benner also said he saw rain leakage after the heavy storm on April 30 and May 1. He noted leaks in the kindergarten wing and as many as 15 gallons of water in the fifth and sixth grade wing, and said some of the water damaged recently repaired sheetrock.  

“It was really disappointing to come in and see that,” he said. “What next, you know?” 

According to Benner, the leaks were caused by failing sealing and caulking around the building, which he plans to get repaired as soon as possible. However, he said they reflect bigger issues with the building’s envelope, roof and parapets; in total, needed repairs on the BRES building could be in the millions. 

“The problem is that winters in Maine are so hard that the stuff in there expands, contracts and cracks,” he said. “And that’s just good old typical Maine weather.” 

The trustees discussed planning a workshop by the end of May to inspect the issues. 

BRES Principal Shawna Kurr questioned if ongoing repairs are the right approach or if it would be more financially responsible to investigate building a new school. She said while the costs are high, they are necessary.  

“We’re talking fundamental millions, not a pretty new floor and a lovely new cafeteria,” she said. “We’re talking about fundamentals like is rain coming in and flooding our school or not.”  

Kurr said whatever the plan, it needs to happen fast especially while repairs can be done without students in school. “I just want to beg everyone to act swiftly,” she said. “We need to be getting information in the next few weeks and making a decision about what we are going to do.” 

Board of Trustees Chairman Steve Lorrain expressed frustration. He said the trustees are acting thoroughly out of an abundance of caution and fiscal responsibility, but the process should be further along.

“If it’s a bond, if it’s a loan, whatever…we have got to make the place habitable,” he said. “If the sprinkler system isn't working properly, I don’t think we’ll have the say over that. Someone else will say ‘Fix the sprinkler system now or you won't have a school.’” 

Lorrain said a new school may or may not be the answer. “The biggest misconception is that everyone thinks we just want to build a new school. If the voters want to fix these up it’s fine. But seeing the disruptions of a burst pipe, these disruptions would be a 10 magnitude of that.” 

In public comment, several people supported the school and involving the community in the process. Abby Jones, also on the CSD school board, encouraged more outreach and community-based events. 

Jenn Whitney said, as a taxpayer, she understands cost is an issue but is OK with a bigger budget to avoid ongoing repairs. She said she hopes the community will be involved in how to move forward. “If we keep deferring these problems ... The point we’re going to get to is that the community is not going to have a choice and that’s going to be a bigger issue.”