NEW GLOUCESTER – For the fifth time in recent years, SAD 15 has terminated another cleaning contract. The decision was made at Wednesday night’s board meeting.

Superintendent Victoria Burns plans to negotiate with Wilson 5 Service Co. of Kittery to take over cleaning three elementary schools and the superintendent’s office by Dec. 1.

She said she met recently with Dan Lick, president of ServiceMaster of Portland, and terminated its contract, which ran from 2004 to 2007. The reason: failure to meet cleaning expectations, she said. The company could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.

Several years ago the district opted to hire a cleaning contractor to save roughly $30,000. Each time, the business hired has failed to meet the district’s expectations, Burns said.

“We are at the end of our possibilities here; this is a last-ditch attempt to save taxpayers money,” said board Chairman Alan Rich of New Gloucester.

If the cleaning is done by SAD 15 personnel, it would cost $240,440 the first year and $223,00 the second, Burns said. Four full-time custodians and two head custodians and substitutes and equipment would be needed.

Wilson 5 Service Co., a family-owned business, bid $214,620 for the job this fiscal year, but was passed over for ServiceMaster, which had the low bid. Next year the contract with Wilson 5 would total $196,224, Burns said.

In other business, the board discussed a proposed contract with Portland Design Team for $72,000 to help the district apply for renovation funds from the state. In addition, funds would have to be raised locally by voters to upgrade all district buildings.

Last spring the James Sewell Co. of Old Town completed a districtwide assessment of the three elementary schools, the middle school and high school and superintendent’s office, prioritizing the work.

The state’s revolving fund for school renovations allows up to $1 million to be borrowed for each building for essential services such as abatement, air quality and accessibility.

The board is expected to award the contract to Portland Design Team at the next meeting in order to meet a Dec. 30 application deadline.