Just the Facts on the Elementary School Building Proposal

The School Board recently voted to put a bond on the ballot for the March vote for the purpose of adding an addition to the Lamprey River Elementary School along with a gymnasium.  The tentative date for a Public Hearing on the bond will be Tuesday, January 12 at 7:00 as part of a School Board meeting.  Over the next several weeks there will be a presentation to the Budget Committee, a public forum, and a presentation with voting at the Deliberative Session at 10:00 AM on February 6, 2016.  The purpose of this building proposal is to eliminate the portables at the elementary school by building an addition.  I have listed below some facts on our current elementary school and on the proposed plans for an addition and gym.

Facts about Current Building

• Detached portables are rented at $36,000 per year
• Detached portables have been in the District 14 years (they were used when we received them); the attached portables are 32 years old and need new windows ($10,000) and doors ($15,000). 
• Special education teachers are sharing 4 teachers to a room
•  5 out of 7 second grade classes have physical education in their classroom
• Students having physical education in the cafeteria often have to “take turns” during activities because of the lack of space
• We continue to put money into repairs for the portables (examples:  roof top units and bathrooms in attached portables, ramp for outside portables)
•  Students in detached portables have to walk outside to enter the main building
•  No water, bathrooms or sinks in the detached portables
•  There is very little storage throughout the building 
• Guidance counselors are working out of closet areas
•  Nurse’s office is inadequate and lacks privacy, a shower, and handicapped facilities
• Current staff bathroom by office has no sink
• Both attached and detached portables are not energy efficient
• Current building is completely in the flood plain

Facts about Proposed Addition and Gym

• The addition will eliminate all portables
• The addition will be 28,300 sq ft with 5,100 sq ft of renovations for a total of 33,400 sq ft
• The total cost of the project with soft costs is estimated to be $8,250,000
•  There are 12 classrooms- 6 classrooms for Grade 3 and 6 for Grade 4 along with a gym
•  Storage space will be included in the addition
• A new gym will allow all students access to physical education with enough space for the entire class to take part in an activity at one time
•  Gym has its own entrance for community use after 4:00 PM (along with its own bathrooms)
• The cost of the addition will be comparable to the cost we would have paid for an entirely new building with building aid (there will not be any state building aid for the foreseeable future)
• Guidance offices will be included in the renovations to the existing front of the building
• Addition and gym will be built out of the flood plain and in compliance with the town building ordinance
• The proposed heating system is more energy efficient than traditional boiler systems
• An improved nurse’s office with a shower and space for handicapped students will be included
• Adequate space for special education teachers
• Common areas for students and teachers in 3^rd and 4^th grade
• Staff and student bathrooms will be part of the renovations
• Current building will have dry flood proofing applied – this is FEMA approved
•  The proposal includes a new 10,000 gallon oil tank and replacement of 1976 leach field

I hope these facts provide everyone with accurate information on the proposal and will help each person determine how they will vote in March.  Additional information and plans will be presented at the public hearing and the Deliberative Session.