Project would make Penquis Valley a hub

School would house pre-K-12

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

MILO — SAD 41 officials have been researching a potential $10 million project that would convert the Penquis Valley School campus into a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 facility, after looking at costs to renovate the existing building along with elementary schools in Milo and Brownville.

During a Sept. 29 meeting in the Penquis Valley cafeteria, the school committee met with members of the four district select boards and Architect Stephen Blatt to discuss the school construction project.

“This is a big step, it was presented to our board members to present to all of our select boards,” School Board Chair Arthur Herbest said to begin the evening.

“In 2011 we replaced a couple of boilers here at the high school,” Superintendent Michael Wright said. The heating units, he explained, had been in place for about 40 years or a decade more than intended. He said estimates to convert the Penquis Valley School heating system from steam to hot water had a cost of $1.2 to $1.4 million.

“After getting these, before we ask anyone to commit to that, what’s our big plan for the district?,” Wright said. He said Blatt, whose firm is in Portland, was commissioned for facilities and enrollment studies, which both would be needed should SAD 41 apply for state funding on any school projects.

“We have been at it for a little over a year and a half,” Wright said as Blatt has presented the district with both studies. He said a 10-year enrollment study shows a steady student population “for the last eight years and it’s projected to hold steady for the next several years” with the pupil count around 700.

The superintendent said options such as renovating the current buildings compared to new construction were considered as well as seeing if SAD 41’s AOS partner SAD 31 would consider a joint venture. “SAD 31 is a in a different place than we are right now and they were not interested in doing that,” Wright, who also is superintendent of the Howland-based district, said.

Estimates from Blatt had renovation costs between $4.65 and $4.985 million. Wright said construction to convert Penquis Valley into a pre-K-12 facility would be $8,350,000 plus $910,000 in administrative costs and reserve as well as $740,000 for fees and services for a $10 million price tag.

“Back in June the board took a vote to put this project on hold,” Wright said. He said some of the SAD 41 directors likely wanted to see what the towns felt and the Sept. 29 would be a way to hear the selectmen’s thoughts.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen after tonight,” Wright said. He said SAD 41 has been approved for a $2.1 million quality zone academy bond (QZAB) for the Penquis Valley project. QZAB funds for building renovations come with a 0 percent interest rate and the borrowing district pays the principal back in 25 years.

“That would really help in regard to the interest of this project,” he said, saying the district will also be applying to Maine’s school revolving renovation fund in which up to 70 percent of construction costs could be covered by the state.

Blatt then presented, saying his firm and a group of engineers looked at the various buildings, enrollment numbers and costs. “We proposed a concept by which we would put an addition on this building that would put your early and elementary students here,” he said.

A two-story addition on the Sebec River side of the building would house elementary students away from the older pupils with the main office located next to the front door. Blatt said the front lawn would become the outdoor play area for the younger children. “It doesn’t involve buying land, it does involve bringing a new electrical system into your school,” Blatt said, about a needed upgrade.

The architect said a new hot water heating system would be installed under the plan as would a new ventilation system and other upgrades to make the facility energy efficient.

“I would say about two-thirds of the current school would be touched or improved,” Blatt said, saying the high school portion of the building would have classes set up for specific subjects. He said about 28,000 square feet would be added to bring the complex total to approximately 114,000 square feet.

“You select your builder during design, we are all a team,” Blatt said. He said his firm has worked on school projects across Maine and while the costs do not come in under budget construction does not exceed expenses.

“It will take us 18 months to do the whole thing,” Blatt said, saying summers and vacation time would be maximized.

Staff numbers would be very similar with Milo and Brownville elementary students moving to Penquis Valley, Blatt said as student counts would remain stable. “Your major savings is maintenance of buildings.”

Wright said the construction costs could be paid over 20 or 25 years, split proportionally among Milo, Brownville, LaGrange and Atkinson. “We know we have to do something about our buildings,” he said, adding changes can be emotional and politically-charged for communities involved.

Brownville Select Chair Dolly Perkins wondered if the project could be pushed back until after the Atkinson deorganization has been settled. The Legislature may vote on this proposal in 2017 and if approved in Augusta then residents would take a vote on formally deorganizing. Under the plan, Atkinson students would attend RSU 68 and Dover-Foxcroft.

“We have to negotiate with SAD 41 on a withdrawal plan,” Atkinson Select Chair Mark Kinney said about a requirement of the deorganization process. Kinney said he was unsure how project debt would factor into negotiations.

“We are going to do something, either renovation costs or a new project,” Herbest said. “It’s going to cost us money no matter what we do.”

Milo Select Chair Lee McMannus said he regularly hears from business owners, as well as some residents, about the community’s high taxes. “We have to find that dollar amount in our budget,” McMannus said about Milo’s share of the project costs.

“I don’t see where Milo is going to find that amount without cutting a service,” he said. “We are pulling from that same well of money and that well is going dry.”

“Our businesses, the few we have, can’t keep absorbing this,” McMannus said. “It’s a catch-22 for all of us,” as to broaden the tax base Milo needs good infrastructure and good schools.

Herbest said a plan concerning the future of the schools would be brought to the public for a referendum vote, and in the meantime the school board would be working to keep the lines of communication open with the towns.