DIXFIELD — The RSU 10 board voted Monday night to keep the Wellness Center in the Central Office building open for another year.
They also approved spending $12,000 for an architectural study of the district’s 11 buildings.
Part of the cuts made during development of the 2014-15 budget was closure of the Central Office on Nash Street in Dixfield at an estimated $90,000 savings. A 3,400-square-foot section houses the Wellness/Fitness Center used by students, staff, and community members.
Resident Craig Coulthard has been researching the possibility and costs of keeping it there.
Issues raised were insurance, fuel, electricity and plumbing costs.
Chairman Jerry Wiley said the board’s intent has been to keep the facility open, whether at its current location or another site to be identified.
Following Coulthard’s presentation, including a listing of the funds in the Wellness Center account and his pledge to launch a fundraising drive, the board voted almost unanimously to keep it at the former Dixfield Elementary School.
Byron board member Judy Boucher abstained from voting.
In his motion, board member Bruce Ross said Coulthard’s proposal was a win-win situation for the district and the community.
“We’ll re-evaluate it next year,” he said.
Superintendent Craig King said he plans to work with the Region 9 School of Applied Technology’s adult education program in Mexico to learn whether that program could offer fitness classes at the site.
The board also unanimously approved hiring architect Bob Howe of the Portland firm of HKT Associates to inspect and study each of the district’s 11 buildings at a cost of $12,000. The architect met recently with the district’s Buildings and Grounds Committee.
That committee very recently completed in-depth tours of each building to learn their condition, use and other information.
Once the architect completes his work, he and the committee will meet. Recommendations will be made.
That report is likely to come at the beginning of the 2014-15 school year and public hearings will be held.
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