May 14, the Community School District (CSD) trustees edited the scope of the $30 million renovation project at Boothbay Region Elementary School due to the lawsuit delay.  

Lavallee Brensinger architect Lance Whitehead said that, as of May 2026, there has been an 18% rise in total project cost since last year’s estimate, caused by a significant increase in labor and material costs, and the extension of the project timeline.

In a post-meeting interview, Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) Superintendent Robert Kahler said the increases put the project over budget by $4-5 million. A maintenance building and exterior wall improvements were eliminated, and the cost is now about $2 million over budget.

The trustees decided to also reduce landscaping (saving $40,000), not move the softball field (saving $100,000), remove a duplicate clerk position ($270,000), keep accordion walls between classrooms ($120,000) and reduce the project timeline by 1.5 months ($105,000). There was an overestimation of the asbestos abatement required. After correction, it saved $65,000.

They discussed lowering the amount of granite curbing and using concrete instead, which saves $45,000, but decided to keep the option open for bid day. A similar decision was made for exchanging stonework around the entrance for brick ($10,000). The CSD is exploring cost savings by having Affinity Lighting only replace lighting in areas not being renovated, so the fixtures do not have to be reinstalled later.

To cover phase 1B, which adds locker rooms and multi-user restrooms, the CSD needs to fundraise about $3 million.

Although the maintenance building has been pushed to phase 2, the board is looking ahead and considered putting it by the tennis courts or acquiring an off-site building.  

In other business, Facilities Director David Benner said BRES’s parapet project is done. The only repair project left is replacing the underground fuel tanks at each school. Out of the $1.6 million repair bond, about $151,000 remains. Benner recently visited the old Boothbay Town Office to review its potential as a maintenance/storage building. His evaluation is forthcoming.  

Attendee Tom Perkins brought up a cost concern about the children of CSD employees who live outside the district attending regional schools. “We value all our employees. That's not the issue. But it made me curious as to what potential liability there was, and how many potential students we could get coming here for free, on the taxpayer’s dime for Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor.”

He floated setting a limit on this number. Kahler said there are currently 15 students from nine teachers in the CSD, and tuition is not paid for their attendance due to legal agreements. The board tabled the issue.

The board voted Sewall Maddocks as chair and Paul Roberts as vice chair.