Emotions ran high at the New Gloucester Board of Selectmen’s Meeting on Sept. 15 as several citizens weighed in on MSAD 15 Superintendent Bruce Beasley’s presentation about the proposed referendum and facilities improvements.
Beasley explained the process, dating
back to the voters’ approval of capital funds to purchase land and conduct a
study of the athletic fields and school facilities. He explained that the Long
Range Planning Committee met several time during the past two years to
prioritize the recommendations of the report and develop the plan that has been
brought to the public.
Approximately $4.5 million of the
proposed $7.3 million referendum will fund the relocation of baseball and
softball fields, add a practice field and construct a new running oval and
artificial turf football field. The remaining funds, if approved, will fund the
addition of classrooms, parking and structural repairs to the middle school and
an overhaul of two antiquated chemistry labs at the high school.
The selectmen complimented the
Superintendent’s presentation, but questioned the need to do so much at one
time. Members of the public also questioned the decision to offer one
referendum question as opposed to splitting it to separate the fields from the
buildings. One resident, Colleen Strickler suggested that the district needs to
learn the difference between wants versus needs. Another, Mel Craig, shared a
letter that she wrote to the Superintendent and School Board expressing her
concerns that the proposal is too much too soon, and that the associated
increase in taxes might force the very people the district is trying to serve
to move out of town due to unaffordable taxes. To emphasize her point, she
asked Beasley to provide the percentage of students in the district who are
eligible for reduced or free lunch. He is expected to provide that information
at one of the upcoming public information forums.
Overall, between the citizens and the selectmen,
there seemed to be a consensus that the building and academic improvements are
necessary and supported, but that the athletic improvements could wait. One
member of the public asked if it was too late for the district to separate the
question in two. District representatives were unsure of the legalities to do
so. The MSAD 15 Trustees were scheduled to meet on the 17th.
Beasley announced the forum dates for
Oct. 6 at Memorial School, Oct. 14 at the GNGHS Library, and Oct. 23 at the GNG
Middle School. All of the forums will be conducted between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
and he encouraged the public to attend.
In other business, with two applicants
and some debate, the selectmen appointed Kevin Sullivan over Kathleen Potter to
the unexpired term of Jenny Sprague to the MSAD 15 Board. Sprague was forced to
resign due to relocation. Generally, the BOS felt that both applicants were
equally qualified but brought different attributes to the table; in Potter’s
case more recent experience serving on the board, and Sullivan a fresh
perspective. After a motion to appoint Potter failed with Libby, Berry and
Chase opposed, a second motion by Berry saw Sullivan appointed with McHenry and
Sturgis opposed.
In the interest of time the BOS tabled a
discussion about its 2014 activity list and the approval of past minutes.
The New Gloucester BOS is next scheduled
to meet on October 6 with Chair Libby noting that it may be moved up to
accommodate the signing of the MSAD 15 warrant.
Updated on Friday, 9/19/2014.
The MSAD 15 School Board decided to split the
referendum question:
One question for buildings and fields -- without
artificial turf
$
6,623,080
Second Question - (If first passes) to approve an
additional sum to upgrade to artificial turf on the competition football /
soccer field $
738,000
Question 1: Do you
favor authorizing the board of directors of Maine School Administrative
District No. 15 (the “District”) to issue bonds or notes in the name of the
District for school construction and minor capital project purposes in an
amount not to exceed $ 6,623,080 for school construction, renovations, and
improvements at existing District schools, including (i) a classroom addition
to Gray-New Gloucester Middle School; and (ii) renovations and improvements to
Gray-New Gloucester High School and to Gray-New Gloucester Middle School,
including the school buildings, facilities, and athletic fields?
AND
Question 2: If
Question 1 is approved, do you favor authorizing the board of directors of
Maine School Administrative District No. 15 (the “District”) to issue
additional bonds or notes in the name of the District for that Project in an
amount not to exceed $ 738,000 in order that the Project budget may include
artificial turf instead of grass turf for the high school stadium field improvements made as part of that
Project?
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