RSU 40/MSAD 40 outlines $24.9 million high-school renovation plan, cites $4.0M in state funds and water-system repairs

The RSU 40/MSAD 40 board on Monday heard a detailed presentation on a proposed high-school renovation, a phased plan priced at roughly $24.9 million after removing selected elements from an initial $27.8 million estimate and factoring in nearly $4.0 million in state revolving renovation funds.

Superintendent (name not specified) told the board the project is intended to bring the high school to a safe, operational baseline and to address long-standing hazards. "The building has asbestos. It's old, and it's dirty," the superintendent said, adding that "this bond is a major step toward meeting that value." Presenters said conceptual drawings shown to the board are early designs intended to establish a budget; final layouts and pricing will be refined during the design phase if voters approve the bond.

Architects and project partners outlined the scope: a new secure front vestibule, ducted ventilation to replace failing unit ventilators, a building-wide sprinkler system triggered by the planned work, upgraded science labs, asbestos abatement, ceiling and control-system upgrades, plumbing and underground water piping work, and reconfigured administrative and special-education spaces. Anne Keterick of Novo Studio Architects said the initial full scope came to about $27.8 million before descope choices.

Project leaders described several descope choices meant to reduce cost while preserving core goals. Those choices include a lighter locker-room renovation, substituting luxury flooring with LVT, and removing a single library HVAC unit at this stage; the team said those changes, together with $4.0 million in state funds, reduced the bond ask to about $24.9 million. Carrie Warms of Energy Efficiency Investments (EEI) told the board that RSU 40 was awarded nearly $4.0 million from the state's Revolving Renovation Fund, with about 43% of each funded project forgiven by the state and the remainder repaid interest-free over 10 years.

Board members asked how much design changes could affect price. Presenters said conceptual-plan changes are expected to be modest for most items and estimated roughly ±15% variability on individual elements until final bidding and pricing are complete. The team emphasized the work will be phased across summers beginning this year to minimize disruption to school operations.

Presenters also described recent water-supply problems at the high school and the district's response. The district said a low-producing well and a failing pump led to an emergency repair that included replacing a specialized pump and hydrofracturing the well to restore production. Presenter Brian said production had been as low as 8–9 gallons per minute while the system was designed for about 50 gpm; after repairs the district reported substantially higher supply during a recent large weekend event. Interim testing showed arsenic levels did not rise and in one round declined slightly; final test results and state approval are pending.

The board heard concerns about special-education placement in conceptual floor plans from a board member who worried the plans showed many special-education spaces clustered together. A district staff member responding to that concern called the shown layouts "placeholders" and said classroom and program placement will be decided with input from special-education experts as the design advances.

Board member Melvin urged the community to support the work, warning that deferring major renovations could force the district to consider closing the high school and tuitioning students to other districts. "It's better to invest $25,000,000 now than to keep paying the bill," Melvin said.

Next steps: presenters said they will return at the district's March board meeting with refined scope and budget materials and to ask the board to place the bond question on the ballot for voter consideration.