POLAND — A number of questions have been raised as Regional School District 16 has dealt with heating and ventilation system concerns at its three elementary schools.
Questions include why the matter grew from a problem at Minot Consolidated School school last year into a $5.1 million bond proposal for all three schools; how much the administration knew about problems at the other schools; and were alternatives explored.
The following is a timeline of some of the key dates regarding conditions at the three schools:
May 11, 2020: Even before this date, it was acknowledged among RSU 16 directors and school leaders that the elementary schools needed attention. The board’s minutes from that meeting said: “Superintendent’s focus has been on classrooms in the elementary schools because they have the biggest needs, in particular ESS (Elm Street School) and MCS (Minot Consolidated School) with some issues at PCS (Poland Community School), as well. The Siemens plan will be a capital plan for the next 10 years.” Siemens Industry had been contracted by the district to make energy and building improvements throughout the district, and the district ultimately considered the upgrades part of a 10-year plan. However, the funds for the 10-year plan were never found. See related story.
Sept. 30, 2022: A cast iron plate cracked in the single boiler that heated Minot Consolidated School, which ultimately initiated the referendum move voters will decide on Tuesday. Space heaters were purchased for the classrooms, the insurance company was contacted, and a search for replacement parts for the 10-year-old boiler was undertaken.
Oct. 3, 2022: Superintendent Kenneth Healey gave a 2-minute report on the boiler breakdown to the School Board. Around this time Healey also called Tom Seekins of Energy Management Consultants in Portland. “We were seeking solutions to fixing the broken boiler at MCS and reached out to many contacts without success. Tom Seekins was the only contact that helped find a solution for us,” Healey said. (Several years earlier, Seekins was working with Siemens Industry when it was contracted by the district to make the energy and building improvements throughout the district’s schools.)
Oct. 24, 2022: The board’s Operations Subcommittee learned that finding parts or a replacement boiler for Minot would prove to be difficult and expensive. Options were discussed.
Nov. 14, 2022: Minot’s boiler issue was the subject of lengthy discussion by the board. A complete unit replacement for the boiler was available, but delivery could take up to 25 weeks. Seekins attended the meeting at Healey’s request and offered options to keep the school heated in the interim. Seekins brought up the age and condition of the other elementary schools’ heating systems, noting they too could fail like the one at the Minot school. Healey raised the prospect of getting all three elementary schools’ heating systems updated and finding a way to fund that work.
Nov. 28, 2022: At the next Operations Subcommittee meeting Seekins presented a plan “to permanently fix the boiler systems” in the elementary schools.
December 2022: Healey recommended the School Board fund a $25,000 study to be done by Seekins’ EMS company on the cost of updating the heating, ventilation and temperature control systems in all three elementary schools.
Jan. 18, 2023: Seekins’ report is made available.
Feb. 13, 2023: At a board meeting, Healey recommended a $5.1 million bond package to be voted on at a referendum. May 2 was chosen for the referendum vote. If the proposal passed, bids could go out immediately so the winning contractor would have time to order parts and get the work done on Minot Consolidated School this coming summer. Work on the elementary schools for Mechanic Falls and Poland would be done in the summer in 2024.
March 2, 2023: The $5.1 million bond was unanimously endorsed by RSU 16 directors. The vote is Tuesday.
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