In May the Lamoine School Committee submitted an application to the State Board of Education for funds to complete renovations and expansion at the Lamoine Consolidated School. The application arose as the result of two studies that had been conducted regarding the building.

The Lamoine School Needs Assessment Committee; comprised of members from a cross section of the community including town officials, school personnel, parents, public safety officials and the public at large; made public it’s findings and recommendations in a report completed in the fall of 2001. The report cited external access issues involving parking, traffic flow and the interaction of children with vehicles, the condition and location of play areas, ice buildups affecting entrances to the school and poor outside lighting. Also cited were internal safety and physical plant issues many of which dealt with the inadequate and dangerous gymnasium, outdated intercom and alarm systems, and inadequate electrical, lighting, and water systems. The committee also found that the facility also lacked space for critical programs. Students are housed in portable classrooms, and there is no space for music, art, laboratories for computers and science, and room for lockers and storage.

As a result of the recommendations of this committee, the Lamoine School committee appointed a building committee, also representing a cross section of the community, and charged them with the task of crafting a solution to the problems at the facility. After much study, the building committee recommended that the town submit an application seeking state support through the Department of Education’s major capital projects program. One component of the application requires the submission of a Facility Assessment Report completed by a qualified engineer. The James W. Sewall Company of Old Town was selected to complete the assessment.

The Facility Assessment Report identified many serious deficiencies, provided recommended remediation along with cost estimates, as well a recommended some improvements. The most serious deficiencies needing remediation include replacing the existing domestic water system with an on-site well, replacing the septic system, bringing electrical and plumbing systems up to current codes, replacing windows and doors to comply with Americans with Disability Act (ADA) requirements, and re-engineering the roof system to prevent condensation. The estimated cost of correcting the most serious deficiencies was $264,594. Other, less serious deficiencies, which the engineer recommended correcting, are repairs to heating and ventilation units, replacement of outdated lighting fixtures, and replacement of asbestos containing tile and mastic. The cost of these repairs was estimated at $90,570. While not cited as deficiencies the engineering study recommended improvements to offices and restrooms for ADA compliance and new exterior doors on one of the portable classrooms at a cost of $13,732. The total cost to complete all of the recommended remediation was estimated at $368,896 at the time.

Information from these reports and well as much more building history and enrollment data was provided to Oak Point Associates, an architectural firm hired by the school committee to assist in preparing a major capital project application to the state. The completed application and extensive supporting materials was submitted to the state prior to the June 1, 2004 due date.

A team from the Department of Education will review the application over the summer, along with over a hundred from other districts around the state. Beginning in September, a team of three state officials will visit the site of each application. Based on the content of each application, and the information gathered at these site visits, the team will develop a Priority List of projects to submit to the State Board of Education by spring 2005. Projects approved on the priority list will be given permission to continue the long process leading to a construction/renovation projects by 2007. Applicants who do not make the Priority List may wait to submit a new application in 2006, pursue projects with local funding, or develop alternate plans.

By David Bridgham, Business Manager

School Union 92