The School Board heard public comments on Oct. 19th on the architectural plans for a new elementary school on the Jordan Acres site that will replace Coffin School. Currently, the price is $27,920,474 based on the project budget submitted by architect Lyndon Keck. We are getting closer to finalizing this phase of architectural planning. Members of the public spoke about ways that may decrease the size/footprint of the school that might, in turn, result in a smaller overall price. An idea offered was to build out the second floor rather than leaving a middle part of the second floor unfinished, perhaps producing the possibility of reducing the length of the wings of the school. Other members of the public supported the plan as is, ie. 2, two story wings with the second floor wings disconnected, creating two smaller schools within a school. Inquiries about whether the School Board has considered a private/public partnership for the pre-K program delivered at an offsite location offered another possibility to reduce the size/cost of the building. Another member of the public offered that she fully supported a Brunswick School Department pre-K program and that her children attended the private preschool/daycare program referred to and she didn't think a private/public partnership was a viable option. Other public comments supported the school within a school model whose goal is to create smaller learning communities for the children attending. Personal experience was shared that a new school in Connecticut was built with the school within a school model, but after a number of years it did not meet the needs of the school, and currently has been repurposed as a community center. Another parent spoke saying her kindergarten child was having a wonderful experience at Coffin this year and despite all the facilities issues, he is enjoying every part of his educational experience....classroom learning, playground time, and even his ride on the bus to and from school. She offered that it was the school leadership and teachers that are making his kindergarten experience so positive. However, she said, for all his joy and positive experiences, it was difficult for her as an adult/parent to see the different conditions that he is experiencing compared to her childhood experiences while attending the now-closed Longfellow school. A parent spoke about the Brunswick Junior High School in much the same light. His children were also having positive experiences at BJHS with high praise for the leadership and teachers, but referred to the school facilities as needing serious attention. He hoped the School Board would not lose sight of the condition of BJHS. He asked that we look to the future when considering the design of the new school. The School Board entered into discussion with the public about the benefits of including the geothermal and slanted roofing ready for solar panel investment at a later date. The increasing year-round use of the school buildings by the school department, recreation department, and members of the community would be more appealing with the ability to support cost effective air conditioning using geothermal and solar panels. These features cannot be added in later years.
We are getting closer to finalizing this phase of architectural planning for the new elementary school. Let's keep our focus on the reasons we need a new school: overcrowding at both Harriet Beecher Stowe and Coffin elementary schools AND aging buildings. We have limped along with the aging building issues for too long. One resident declared he would not want to spend one day in Coffin school. Prolonging this process will exacerbate the issues and continue to add to the inflation costs that we have experienced for the last 5 years. The cost cannot be reduced, still solve our current problems, and have an eye toward the long-term future. When Harriet Beecher Stowe school was built, one cost saving strategy was to not build out the second floor of the building. Only a few short years later, we find we could have used the 4 extra classrooms this build out would have allowed to ease the overcrowding. It is the School Board's responsibility to not only keep in mind current issues, but have a future focus as well. It is likely that Brunswick's elementary population will continue to grow. Since the naval base closure, we have seen population variability from year to year and building a school to meet only current populations, doesn't offer a release valve for future years of population growth. Building a school now with just one intended use, doesn't offer the flexibility for changing conditions, 5, 10, 20, 75 years from now. I was glad to hear the architect say that planning for school buildings now include a moving away from 'the lowest cost' mentality to realistic building standards that allow for building lifespans of up to 75 years. I have no doubt that our school leadership working in collaboration with the teachers can continue to offer excellent academic and social experiences we heard the public speak about now and in the future. Small learning communities can be achieved with the proposed current design and also with the addition of the build out of the second floor. Adding the build out of the second floor now not only connects two parts of the building adding to the ease and functionality of its use, it also could add another smaller community of classrooms. According to the architect, like the solar panels and geothermal capabilities, adding this area in future years is not possible. Let's not fail to maximize the potential of this new building by trimming costs here and there that reduces the flexibility of future use. I am concerned with the cost as much as all of us. If we are investing millions of dollars, let's make it a school that is flexible in use and capacity for far into the future. Let's solve this elementary facility problem NOW so we can act to solve our next facility issue. We need to move on and address the junior high school's aging facility. Although the junior high is not overcrowded now, let's remember these elementary grades of increasing population will be knocking at the junior high school's door in the very near future.
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