State panel OKs SAD 46 proposal

Bangor Daily News, February 22, 2007

(excerpt) In response to questions from the board, the design team from Portland-based Stephen Blatt Architects said the wood boiler would be similar to those used in Vermont schools. As part of their training, trucking students at a technical center would be used to deliver the wood chips to the school.

Jordan said the decision to consolidate the elementary and middle schools came about after the district was unable to find a good match for a consolidated high school. He noted that Exeter and Garland were "kind of bedroom communities for Bangor," and increasing in population.

While he acknowledged that "there’s still a small faction of people that like that little school for their community," Jordan said that in the end the major selling point of a consolidated school was a promise of equity for every community.

"We spent a lot of time making sure that whatever was offered at Dexter was offered to everyone," Jordan said. "It was the best choice for us to do, building a school for the whole community. … We know in the long run that all our children will be treated equally."