Wentworth on the ballot

Scarborough voters will decide in November on a $39.1 million bond to build a  new intermediate school.

Michael Wood

SCARBOROUGH — When Scarborough Councilor Michael Wood attended an early meeting in the latest effort to replace Wentworth Intermediate School, he made few friends among the dozens of staffers and parents who support the project.

"When I came to those first meetings, I wasn't sure if I supported this," recalled Wood. "I remembered saying, 'if' we build a new school,’ and a couple of people stared me down. ‘You mean, when,' they said."

But that was last fall. By last Wednesday, when he read a resolution proclaiming construction of a new intermediate school to be the Town Council's "highest priority," it was clear Wood had become a committed convert. He wore a T-shirt supporting the project, while propped behind his nameplate stood a bumper sticker sporting the same message.

Although no other councilor was quite so overt, all voiced unreserved support for a "new Wentworth." In a unanimous 5-0 vote on July 20, the Town Council approved placing on the Nov. 8 ballot a bond question for a new school, not to exceed $39.1 million. However, while it's now certain a bond question will be on the ballot, a final price tag and exact wording of the question have yet to be decided. According to Town Manager Tom Hall, that will be settled at the council's next meeting, Aug. 17.

In voting, councilors praised the work of the committee that helped design the building, and made the case for a new school. Even Councilor Ron Ahlquist, who could not be at the meeting, sent word via Chairwoman Judith Roy that he, too, was in favor or building a new school.

"He thinks, as do I, that it's the frugal thing to do," said Roy, referencing $2 million dumped in recent years into the building town officials have called everything short of dilapidated.

In fact, the only opinion voiced by the council that was stronger than the need for a new school was its praise for the 41-person, volunteer building committee that's championed the cause for the past nine months.

"To me, this is what it means to contribute to your community in a meaningful way," said Councilor Karen D'Andrea, heaping praise on then plan presented by committee chairman Paul Koziell.

At the July 20 meeting, Koziell gave an estimate of $37.7 million for base construction, including "extraordinarily high" demolition costs to tear down the existing school, due, in part, the presence of asbestos.

Koziell also gave a new estimate of $1.4 million to add in a geothermal heating and cooling system. Although the council will get the final say, school board Chairman Chris Brownsey said folks on his end support taking a single $39.1 million question to voters, rather than giving options with and without the geothermal package.

"That's what we are bringing forward and we were 7-0 supporting it," he told the council.

Many on the council also seemed to favor the geothermal, despite that fact that the return-on-investment (when the predicted cost to run the system will finally eclipse the original construction costs) is expected to take 18 years.

Councilor Carol Rancourt claimed global warming has made for a hotter spring season, necessitating the need for an economical cooling system. Councilor Richard Holbrook said turmoil in the Middle East makes it imperative to seek alternatives to oil heat.

The price tag with the geothermal system does make the project more expensive than a similar $38.3 million bond rejected by voters in 2006 for the same purpose. Koziell has claimed that the building design presented at that time would cost $42 million today.

To keep the base cost below the 2006 figure, the building committee has worked with architects from Auburn-based Harriman Associates to trim 21,800 square feet and six classrooms from the earlier proposal, dressing out the current design at 163,000 square feet and 40 classrooms, meant for 800 students but capable of housing 960. Enrollment is now 775.

The building committee also has shaved space off the gym, cafeteria and kitchen, while eliminating some $600,000 just days before Thursday's vote by excising an athletic field, a maintenance shed and an extra parking lot that was to have been located behind the school. Koziell said his committee will solicit outside grants in hopes of eventually restoring those elements.

Any number of elements in and around the school could change before the council takes up bond wording at its August meeting. All that's known for certain at present is that whatever price tag goes to voters, it will not exceed $39.1 million, per the adopted resolution. However, costs could still drop, said Koziell.

“We wanted a financially responsible project that would serve the teachers, the students, and the community as a whole,” he said. “I think that’s what we’ve brought.”