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New Gorham Elementary School Project
Narrative and chronology
of the events and decisions attendant
to the design, site location, and construction
of the new Gorham elementary school.
In 1999 the Gorham School Facilities Plan was completed and a central recommendation of that plan was the concept of three K-5 schools for Gorham. It was recognized at that time that a new elementary school would have to be built, replacing the White Rock School, thus providing adequate space to support the new K-5 configuration. In 2001-2002 the Gorham School Department submitted a plan to the State requesting State support (funding) for a new elementary school. It was determined by the School Department, and supported by the State, that the existing White Rock building and site would not be sufficient to host the new school. The new school was to be constructed for an enrollment of 550 students; it required town water, town sewer, and three-phase power, none of which were available at the White Rock site. It would also
require a footprint of around 25 acres and the existing White Rock site was less than 12 acres. The new school would relieve the overcrowded conditions at the Village School and at the Narragansett School, and would end the use of portable classrooms at all three school sites. Subsequent to the review by the State Department of Education of the more than sixty requests from around the State, the Gorham project was rated 17th in priority. Given that the State could only fund approximately 12 projects, the Gorham plan did not make the cut.
During 2002-2003, a series of Community Forums were held in Gorham to discuss elementary school facilities needs and the K-5 configuration. In 2003-2004 the plan requesting funds for a new elementary school was updated and resubmitted to the State. In April 2003 the Gorham School Committee formally approved the K-5 configuration for the three elementary schools and, in August 2005, what was then known as the White Rock Project was approved by the State. The plan is to build a new elementary school that will replace White Rock School, constructing a large school that would be able to house up to 550 children and would include grades K through 5. At the time the new school opens, most likely in September of 2011, the current Narragansett School and Village School will also become K-5 schools.
A "White Rock/ New Building Project Team" was formed in December 2005, chaired by Jim Hager, and having membership of parents, teachers, and district personnel, as well as another school committee member and a member of the town council. This group selected an architect in May of 2006 (PDT-Portland Design Team), and has continued to meet monthly since that time. Beginning with fall of 2006 PDT met with staff of the three elementary schools to secure their insights concerning the design of the new school. A second committee was formed, the K-5 Transition Committee, chaired by Brad Smith, Principal of Narragansett School. The primary focus of this group is to address the personnel, facilities, and programmatic issues that need to be in place by the opening of school in September 2011, the date that the new
school will be open and the three schools implement the K-5 configuration. The District worked closely with the State Department of Education and a timeline and a protocol was developed for the design and the construction of the new elementary school. Public forums and meetings have been held periodically to keep the public informed of both the process and progress. The School Department website and use of the local Gorham TV channel are also used to provide information to the public.
It was determined from the beginning that a site for the new school ideally be located, if at all possible, within the corridor stretching from the White Rock and the Little Falls sections of Gorham. A matrix was developed by the Building Committee that would rate each site that was to be considered as a possible location for the new school. During the period 2006-2007 extensive studies of the greater White Rock/Little Falls area were done, criteria for choosing a piece of land were established, and land owners were approached. A site was found that would have been a great setting for a school and, subsequently, much time and resources were dedicated, working with state and federal agencies to determine if a building on this site would be acceptable to those agencies. These requirements were met and the required number of
real estate appraisals were done as required by the State. Finally, early in the fall of 2007, an offer was made to the landowners and after much thought on their part, they decided not to sell. This was a setback as much time elapsed. Other sites that had been under initial review received another look, but none of those sites would meet all the requirements. The superintendent and the chair of the school committee decided to ask the Gorham Town Council about a piece of land owned by the town called "the Chick property," while still looking for another site.
The town council had a special meeting to consider whether or not we should go ahead and consider the Chick property for a new school building. They voted to allow us to do so and subsequently, the architects and engineers reviewed the property to see if it would meet the criteria that were established by the Building Committee.
While this property is located near the center of downtown, not in the White Rock/Little Falls area as we had hoped, the Building Project Committee had been acting in good faith, trying very hard to find a suitable space for our new school located in the White Rock/Little Falls area. The lack of three phase power, public water and sewer in this part of town has made it more challenging. If we were not able to find a suitable site for the new school, we would place at risk the possibility of losing our state funding (perhaps about $20 million!) because of the delays. In November 2007 we asked the State to grant our project an extension, which was granted, effectively moving the date for the opening of the new school from September 2010 to September 2011.
In mid-winter 2007-2008 discussions began with the Stevens family concerning a parcel of land, approximately 70 acres in total located on Rte. 237, a few tenths of a mile north of the Little Falls rotary, and just before the turf farm located on that road. A purchase and sale agreement was signed with the Stevens' that would include the approximately 26 acres at the back of the 70 acre parcel. This land is a field and has been determined to be an excellent site for the new school. In March 2008 the State Board of Education approved the site for the new school and in June 2008 granted approval for the concept design.
In April 2008 a public hearing was held on the site selection and a straw poll evidenced overwhelming support for the location. In May 2008 a public forum was held on the concept design for the new school and again, overwhelming sentiment for this design was reflected in the result of the straw poll. In July 2008 a presentation was made to the Town Council requesting that approval of a referendum on the new school be established for Tuesday, September 6, 2008, and the Council gave itsà approval. A group of citizens supporting the new school, Friends of the New Elementary School, emerged, and, working with other interested citizens, provided information for the voters of Gorham on the project. The outcome of the referendum indicated a very strong endorsement for the construction of the new school. The total cost of the new school
will be $25, 833.908 with the State funding 89.6% or $23,192.766 of that cost, leaving the local amount to be funded at $2,480.000.
Since the referendum, various State and Federal agencies have conducted reviews and tests of the site and the results of those tests have been favorable. On February 9, 2009 a public forum was held as required by the Department of Environmental Protection Agency (DEP) and in March we will be meeting again with the Gorham Planning Committee, a Committee which had indicated support for this site at a meeting held with them in 2008.
On February 19, 2009 the purchase of the Steven's property will be consummated, in accordance with the purchase and sale agreement concluded between the School Department, the Town, and the StevenÃs in March 2008.
Approximately two-thirds of the students and the staff, K-5, will be impacted by the new configuration. The good news is that it will be a one-time change for the students as once it is completed, students will then remain at the same school for six years, then, as they do now will move to the Middle School for grades 6-8, and the High School for grades 9-12. In 2006 the School Committee gave concept approval to an extended-day program for those kindergarten students who would benefit from additional time focusing on literacy and numeracy skill development and content understanding. Under this design, all kindergarten students would attend the morning session, with those in need of reinforcement remaining for the afternoon session. This program both compliments and supplements other initiatives and programs that focus on
literacy and numeracy, already established in the District. The opening of the new school will provide the space that is necessary to offer the extended-day Kindergarten program. While Pre K programs in public schools are not required, nor funded by the Maine State Department of Education, it is expected that study and consideration of a Pre K design for Gorham will take place subsequent to the opening of the new school, although no formal action has been considered on such a program at this time. Obviously, given the serious and unprecedented impact on public school budgets as a result of the recession, consideration of new programs that demand new resources are not a high priority for the District at this time.
Finally, please know that the School Committee, the Building Committee, and the K-5 Transition Committee are very grateful for the overwhelming support that the new elementary school project has, and continues, to receive.
At this juncture the timeline for the project is as follows:
- Construction documents completed/final review, April 2009
- Final design & funding approval by State Board of Education, May 2009
- Project out to bid , May/June 2009
- Bid Opening, June 2009
- Final funding approval by the Commissioner of Education, June 2009
- Start Construction, August/September 2009
- Department of Education established bond date, October 2009
- Substantial completion, July 2011
- Occupancy/opening of new school, September 2011.
The Gorham Schools web site (www.gorhamschool.org) has a section on the project that is updated regularly. The Building Project meetings for the new school are open to the public and are scheduled for the first Wednesday of every month @ 6:00pm held in the conference room adjacent to he superintendentÃs office. Additional public meetings are held periodically, as needed/required.
Building Committee Members
Jim Hager, Chair, New Elementary School Building Committee
Dennis Libby, Vice Chair, New Elementary School Building Committee
Ted Sharp, Superintendent of Schools
Brenda Caldwell, Town Council
Roger Marchand, School Committee
Jane Knapp, Citizen, (& State Legislator)
Guy Labrecque, Citizen
Patty LaRosa, Teacher
Michael Lortie, Teacher
Margaret Evans, Principal, White Rock
Brad Smith, Principal, Narragansett
Brian Porter, Principal, Village
Paul Roney, Director of Facilities & Transportation
Hollis Cobb, Finance Officer, School Department
Lyndon Keck, PDT Architects
Alan Kuniholm, PDT Architects
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