Letter to the editor: Regroup on C-R Middle School - What did your no vote mean?
The MSAD 28 School Board will meet this Wednesday, March 18, and on the agenda is a discussion about next steps for the Camden-Rockport Middle School facility. Input from the community is needed as to what those next steps should be. As Superintendent Elaine Nutter stated in her response to the defeat of the Midde School referendum vote on Feb. 10, "to do nothing is not a responsible option" (http://www.penbaypilot.com/article/elaine-nutter-reaction-sad-28-referendum-vote/48139.)
Please, let us know! What did your NO vote mean? What were you saying YES to?
Was it...
- Yes, to spending $18 million* right now to substantially renovate the existing building. [*$17.6 million from the Oak Point Study data, rounded up to $18 million.]
- Yes, to spending up to $1 million** per year for the next eight years, when some of the current debt service is retired, and then build a new school for $23-$30 Million^. Estimated total cost: $31-$38 million. [**$7.5 million in infrastructure and maintenance needs required over the next 10 years, $500,000 proposed for this year to keep the school safe. Assuming an average of $1 million per year for sake of this letter.] [^Assuming construction costs will be higher eight years from now.]
- Yes, to a new school but lower the cost. (to what?)
- Yes, to a new school but tear down the Mary E. Taylor School.
- Yes, to a new school at $23 million now, but no to adding the CSD/Central Office needs to the project. Let the CSD figure that out separately and come back to us in a few years with a $1-$2 million proposal. Do not package them together.
- Yes, to spending $1 million per year going forward until failure, then spend $50 million(?)^^ on an emergency construction project. Estimated total cost: $60 million.^^^ [^^Just a stab in the dark.] [^^^Assumes current building makes it another 10 years before failure.]
Comment here and/or email the School Board at sadpass@fivetowns.net.
The School Board meeting is at 7 p.m., in the Camden-Rockport Elementary School atrium.
Heather Mackey lives in Rockport
