The Sept. 2 editorial titled “High costs and school construction” made interesting comparisons between the recently completed Harold Alfond Hall at Saint Joseph’s College and the proposed Park Avenue elementary school intended to replace the aging Lake Street Elementary School.

Unfortunately, the Sun Journal, in its haste to complete an opinion column before obtaining information from the Auburn School Department, neglected to mention salient information regarding costs of the Park Avenue facility.

As a transportation consultant who has worked on traffic permitting for St. Dominic Regional High School here in Auburn, I am well aware of the cost-saving issues associated with construction of a neighborhood school, as opposed to building farther away.

According to Jude Cyr of the Auburn School Department, siting a new facility on cheaper land would require three new buses. Over a 30-year period, this would incur a cost between $1.5 million and $2 million, not factoring in inflation. A school on cheaper land would require significant roadway improvements to accommodate more traffic and, since it would not be served by public utilities, additional costs would be incurred for water, sewer and electrical access.

Furthermore, with air conditioning and a full-size gymnasium, the new school would provide the entire city with a long-needed climate-controlled place for summer gatherings, something Auburn just doesn’t have.

As I see it, the proposed facility is doing many things to keep costs down. Compared to the alternative, it is a bargain.

Jeremiah J. Bartlett, Auburn

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