SAD 48 Airs Consolidation Plans
Bangor Daily News, November 10, 2006
(excerpt) The SAD 48 board voted Tuesday night to accept one of several options offered by M.E. McCormick Consultants of Dexter that includes constructing a new regional high school and consolidating four elementary schools into two.
But the key to the success of the consolidation, Dwayne Littlefield, building committee chairman, said Thursday, will be getting the public involved. "We really want a two-way discussion," Littlefield said. Over the next three months, directors will meet with selectmen and members of the public in each of the district's communities. They will also meet with local fire departments, service clubs and organizations, teachers and parent-teacher groups, the Sebasticook Valley Chamber of Commerce, senior citizens' groups and veterans' organizations. Focus groups will also be created and Nokomis Warrior Broadcasting will carry a full explanation of all decisions. The directors will explain McCormick's plan and then use the input from the people to make a final determination.
"It is important to remember that what the board approved was that we put a discussion out there," Littlefield said. "Nothing is etched in stone."
Currently, the district owns 10 buildings, and replacement, renovation and removal were all concepts discussed earlier this year. Some of McCormick's suggestions included the renovation of Nokomis High School into a middle school; conversion of the two existing middle schools into elementary schools; construction of a new elementary school for Plymouth, Palmyra and Newport; closing all existing elementary schools; constructing a new high school with a career-vocational center, sports complex and arts center.
This article has not appeared on the Bangor Daily News web site. Nevertheless I feel it is of great local interest. I offer this (~250 word) excerpt with the hope that such use of the BDN material falls within fair use guidelines.
Update: There's a related article in the Portland Press Herald here. Be sure to read the comments!
Bangor Daily News, November 10, 2006
(excerpt) The SAD 48 board voted Tuesday night to accept one of several options offered by M.E. McCormick Consultants of Dexter that includes constructing a new regional high school and consolidating four elementary schools into two.
But the key to the success of the consolidation, Dwayne Littlefield, building committee chairman, said Thursday, will be getting the public involved. "We really want a two-way discussion," Littlefield said. Over the next three months, directors will meet with selectmen and members of the public in each of the district's communities. They will also meet with local fire departments, service clubs and organizations, teachers and parent-teacher groups, the Sebasticook Valley Chamber of Commerce, senior citizens' groups and veterans' organizations. Focus groups will also be created and Nokomis Warrior Broadcasting will carry a full explanation of all decisions. The directors will explain McCormick's plan and then use the input from the people to make a final determination.
"It is important to remember that what the board approved was that we put a discussion out there," Littlefield said. "Nothing is etched in stone."
Currently, the district owns 10 buildings, and replacement, renovation and removal were all concepts discussed earlier this year. Some of McCormick's suggestions included the renovation of Nokomis High School into a middle school; conversion of the two existing middle schools into elementary schools; construction of a new elementary school for Plymouth, Palmyra and Newport; closing all existing elementary schools; constructing a new high school with a career-vocational center, sports complex and arts center.
This article has not appeared on the Bangor Daily News web site. Nevertheless I feel it is of great local interest. I offer this (~250 word) excerpt with the hope that such use of the BDN material falls within fair use guidelines.
Update: There's a related article in the Portland Press Herald here. Be sure to read the comments!
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