“While I deeply believe in the preservation of the history of our community, I don’t believe the structure was built with the structural and aesthetic integrity that our community deserves,” said Shawn Rice, teacher at Edward little and Coach of the girls tennis team. His sentiments are shared by both over-crowded students and under-facilitated faculty of Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine.

“While the building is structurally sound, the facility does not meet the current educational needs, as well as building codes and standards,” said Jeffrey P. Larimer of Harriman Associates, the contracting company overseeing the school improvement project. However, “Building new is not being considered at this time” because “The focus of this project is to renovate and upgrade the existing facility including possible site improvements.”

The project is still in its planning process so the required amount of funds is unclear. Whether the company decides to construct a new building or renovate the old one the project will be locally funded by the citizens of Auburn through a public referendum vote in November, as there is no state money available at this time.

Harriman Associates has already asked Edward Little staff to determine what is needed. James Miller, Principal of Edward Little, has asked for improved insulation and improved heating units for the heating inefficient and oil guzzling building. He has also asked for more handicap accessibility, a larger auditorium, space designed for modern physical education classes, and classrooms that, unlike the current ones, are designed for the classes that inhabit them.

“A new high school has a minimum of 165 square feet per student. Many of the more recent high schools in Maine and nationally are in the area of 180 to 200 square feet per student,” said Larimer. With the current student to square foot ratio being 154 square feet per student, the need for expansion to keep up with modern expectations is a major concern of this project. ” The true size of the high school will be based on a final analysis of the programming to determine what is actually required to meet current and future educational needs…We will, however, use guidelines established by the Department of Education,” Larimer explained.

According to the New England Association for Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the current building is five years overdue for upgrades. In response, the school applied to the state for aid but was placed 45th in line. Not satisfied with their place in line, the school decided on this proactive method to complete a necessary project.

Students have a list of demands that they also want realized. They feel the school needs better desks, improved heating systems, a cafeteria that was designed as such, and auditorium that isn’t just a gymnasium with a tiny stage. The stage is so small that most drama productions have to be held elsewhere, which means that drama club must charge admission to pay for renting whatever facility they use. An improved building will make even the smaller aspects of the school more efficient. Also an improved gymnasium might mean that the winter sports will not have to struggle to get equal gym time. The building is about 49 years old.