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July 22, 2016
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New Sipayik school plans moving ahead
by Edward French

 

     Progress is continuing with the plans for a new school building at Sipayik, with the tearing down of the Passamaquoddy tribal government office building that will be the site for the new school. The building was torn down by Thomas DiCenzo Inc. of Calais earlier this month for a cost of approximately $98,000. The building, which was constructed in 1993 at a cost of $900,000, had mold and mildew issues.
     The tribal office building had been emptied out earlier this year, with tribal programs moving to different buildings at Sipayik. The tribe will be leasing 20 acres to the Bureau of Indian Education, which will own the new school building.
     Although the present timeline calls for the new school to be ready in time for the start of the 2018 school year, Linda McLeod, superintendent for Maine Indian Education (MIE), says it is hoped that it can be ready before then. The design is presently being fine-tuned to fit within the budget. MIE expects to be going out to bid for a contractor in November or December, with construction to begin next spring. However, McLeod says it's possible the process can move more quickly so that construction could begin this fall.
     The present Beatrice Rafferty School, which was constructed in 1970, with an addition and renovations having been completed in 1986, has had mold and mildew problems from water leaking into the building, and problems with the roof, walls and foundation. By 2014 enrollment had increased to 130 students, with the classes and programs crammed into the space. In addition to the school building, three other buildings are used to accommodate the school's classes and programs. Except for the tarred playground, the school has no outside space for athletics.
      McLeod points out that along with the KB8 classrooms, the new school will have a full-size gym, a Native studies room, a conference room, science lab, music and art rooms, library and computer and media labs, along with a principal's office with a window. It will have better flow than the Beatrice Rafferty School, with a wing for the lower grades and one for junior high. Also, it will be possible to close the gym off from the rest of the school so that it can be used for community events. "It's going to have lots of light. It will be a bright school -- very inviting for children as well as adults," McLeod says.
     Along with the Kcipeskiyak ball field that will be next to the school, there will be full-size playgrounds for both older and younger students. Also, the outside areas will be able to be used for science studies, with a nearby pond being kept. Parking will be behind the building.
     SMRT of Portland is designing the building, with the construction cost estimated at $17 million. After over 10 years of waiting for funding to be released, a total of $18.5 million for the design and construction of the building was included in a federal omnibus funding bill that was passed in early 2014.
     As for the name, McLeod believes the Pleasant Point School Committee will make the decision, after providing opportunities for public input.
     The superintendent points out, "It's going to be an absolutely state-of-the-art school. Overlooking the ocean, it's going to be absolutely beautiful."

July 22, 2016   (Home)     

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