MEXICO – Area superintendents support a major renovation and addition to the Region 9 vocational school, but they want the referendum to be held later, perhaps in November.
The facilities committee of the Region 9 board, and two of the three sending school superintendents met with the project’s architect Friday morning.
“The Nov. 6 date may be more reasonable,” said Region 9 Director David Driscoll. “The superintendents felt that their boards were being rushed.”
And rushed isn’t what anyone wants if the approximately $7.3 million building project is to be approved by voters from the region’s 16 towns.
The school boards from SAD 21, SAD 43 and SAD 44 must be informed of the need and costs for the proposed project.
Holding a referendum in the spring wouldn’t allow enough time for residents to fully understand the impact of the project, SAD 44 Superintendent David Murphy said.
“It’s important for them to understand the impact of new programming, equipment. It’s important for everyone to understand what we are voting on,” he said.
“We want to do it right and not a patchwork job,” said Region 9 board Chairman Norman Clanton.
Proposed is an addition and renovation to the River Road school from the current 28,000-square-feet to about 58,000-square-feet. Board members said that the current facility does not have sufficient space for the existing programs. Two modular buildings are set up adjacent to the school to accommodate students.
“Even if we just fixed the current building, the space is inadequate for our current program,” said Clanton.
The proposal includes space for three new vocational programs, something Murphy said has the potential to keep students in school. Those tentatively planned are automotive, early childhood and culinary arts. Also planned is a library, expanded cafeteria, an elevator, an expanded parking area, and an assembly/lecture room.
About six acres adjacent to the school would be purchased. The estimated $7.3 million project includes the cost of the land, said architect Jim Reuter of the Bethel firm of Smith Reuter Lull.
One of the first steps to inform people about the proposed project will be a joint meeting of the region’s high school principals and guidance counselors to get their thoughts on the proposed plan.
A short time later, Driscoll will make presentations to individual school boards.
“Once we’ve pooled all our information, we’ll make presentations to the voters,” said SAD 21 Superintendent Tom Ward.
The state is expected to help out with $1.5 million, which would be a combination of loans and grant money.
A 20-year bond is being considered to cover the remaining funds.
Information that must be determined before presentations are made to the public include: costs for such things as making necessary repairs and increasing personnel, and whether new programs should be established all at once or phased in.
If plans go ahead as hoped, Reuter said construction could start as early as spring of 2007.
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