Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District officials are starting to grasp the new school construction and renovation costs. Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Bob Kahler told the board of trustees Dec. 6, as the project moved from a conceptual vision to a design project, a more realistic cost estimate had moved from $80 million to $98 million. Kahler reported the building exploratory committee reached a consensus for including a $3.8 million middle school addition.

The wing would include four classrooms and create “swing space” for adding more programs to the middle school curriculum. Abby Jones is a member of the superintending and building exploratory committees. She reported how the BEC reached a consensus for including a middle school wing. “We wanted to include it as we begin approaching major donors. It could be a valuable thing for our middle school students. So let’s see if we can raise the money with it included,” she said. 

School officials have set a goal to raise about half of the project funds through private fundraising. 

In other action, Kahler updated trustees on Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor selectmen’s plans to “repeal and replace” the CSD charter. He reported lawyers were reviewing the latest round of proposed changes. One change both select boards support includes eliminating a town hall-style vote following the public hearing. Both select boards support a school budget referendum. “Once the new charter is approved by the legislature, it’s the law. So only the legislature would be able to change it,” Kahler said. 

AOS 98 Director of Maintenance Dave Benner updated committee members on a district-wide effort to review school heating, ventilation and mechanical services. Benner is seeking proposals from five firms with hopes of receiving “at least three good ones.” He reported each AOS 98 school’s HVAC system, except Southport, is being reviewed. Benner hopes to receive proposals by month’s end. “There is a lot of legwork involved as we are looking at each individual piece of equipment,” he said. 

Benner said the elementary and high schools received a good sprinkler inspection by Maine School Management. Benner reported the inspection occurs every couple years and impacts the district’s insurance rate. 

In his safety and security report, Director of Safety and Transportation Kyle Canada reported on continued problems with the high school’s entrance doors. Canada met with American Glass of Waterville on Aug. 7  to see if the doors can be retro-fitted with new crash bars. He said the doors installed in 1997 were old, and finding replacement parts was hard.

“The right side has an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) opener and the rods are not functioning. So you can’t push the door open. American Glass is coming to hopefully give us some ideas on pricing and replacing. This will be followed by Minuteman Security’s help resetting all the door controls,” Canada said.

Trustees meet next at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3 in the high school library.