On Tuesday, September 14, 2021 during a School Board meeting, the board unanimously approved the formation of a new committee to steer the process of replacing the elementary and middle school buildings, as well as the renovation of the high school with one bond.  The committee will be called the “Building Oversight Committee” to differentiate it from prior committees which focused on preliminary steps: the Needs Assessment Committee of 2018-2019 and the Building Committee of 2019-2020.  The proposed structure of the committee can be found here.

Superintendent Christopher Record explained that the Building Oversight Committee would be charged with multiple levels involved in preparing for a referendum for the school buildings.  This includes guiding Colby Company, LLC, selected by a January 2021 RFQ process, with site planning, public outreach, timing, and building design(s).  Record emphasized that the intention is to create an “efficient” committee, but that greater community input will be included through outreach efforts and possible sub-committees.  Residents who are interested in serving on this committee should contact Record or the School Board.

The School Board and Town Council held a joint workshop on September 1 to review the history of the project’s process to date and the path forward.  Members of Colby Company and Scott Simons Architects provided a presentation of the prior stages and possible steps leading to a 2022 bond vote and project completion by August 2025 or September 2026 — depending on which concept design is chosen.  In December of 2020 the School Board approved the Building Committee's Recommendation to the School Board to replace the Pond Cove and Middle School structures and renovate the high school concurrently with a single bond.  During the Fiscal Year 2022 budget process, the Town Council approved the School Board’s request for a $300,000 Bond Order Note to move forward with a concept design for the replacement and renovation plan [Article].

Over the course of the 2021 summer, following the retirement of former Superintendent Donna Wolfrom and the arrival of Record, conversations began to shift towards replacing the elementary and middle school with one building rather than two.  The completion date for the previously proposed project of two buildings and one shared facilities structure is estimated to be September of 2026.  The completion date for one building containing both schools and facilities is estimated to be August of 2025.  Austin Smith of Simons Architects said that while two buildings is still an option, the efficiencies of one building include: “Simplifying the construction phase, reducing school interruption, and reducing the need for modular classrooms.”  In addition, a previously identified commitment to providing the elementary and middle school with separate identities, separate entrances, and separate dining halls, could still be achieved while also benefiting from shared facilities like a shared kitchen and performing arts auditorium.  

Smith added that between the kickoff of the Oversight Committee and the completion of the construction there are several different stages:  

Our first phase, between now and the bond would be a concept level. We divide this design effort, approval and construction documents, into several different phases.  The benefit of that is each one of these phases is an opportunity to check where we are; to check with you that we are still on program and suiting your needs; and more importantly, to check the cost estimate with each one of these efforts to make sure we are in line with the available funding.

Calen Colby of Colby Company stated that the top priority is the “creation of a learning environment.”  This is followed by the construction of a building that will: “last another sixty years; lower operating costs; and lower heating and cooling costs.”  

In terms of the bond amount, Colby provided estimates based on the earlier proposal for two buildings for the elementary and middle schools, the shared facilities structure, and the renovation of the high school.  In February of 2020, this concept was estimated to cost between $71 million to $80 million.  Given the surge in construction costs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Colby suggested that by the time a concept design is sent to bond, market prices will likely have normalized to more favorable levels: “time is on our side.” However, there is reason to move at a steady and strategic pace in order to capture the lowest possible bond rates which were seen prior to the pandemic.

In terms of when to put a bond to a referendum, several options were discussed.  However, it was the preference of both the School Board and Town Council members present to align a bond referendum with either the June 2022 School Budget referendum or the November 2022 municipal and general elections.  Councilor Penny Jordan added that, “Align[ing] the bond with thoughtfulness is a better strategy.”

With the formation of the Oversight Committee now approved, the next step will be to select members of the committee and begin communication with the community.  School Board member Phil Saucier said it will be very important, “To let people know that Cape [Elizabeth] is being left behind and dramatically so.” 

Below is the proposed timeline associated with the one-building concept, courtesy of Simons Architects and Colby Company.

Access to materials related to the school building committees can be found here.