CARIBOU, Maine — PDT Architects presented their site-rating matrix to the RSU 39 building committee on June 25. The most promising build site for a new school, according to its ranking on the matrix, is Teague Park Elementary.
A checklist involving 30 pieces of criteria broke down the pros and cons on where to build listing the top six sites. The location that received the lowest rating was a potential lot off of South Main Street.
Items such as geographic location, parcel size and shape, public sewer and water and proximity to community facilities had a rating range of 0-20 and others at 0-10 with a possible 330 points for a top site. The Teague school parcel received a score of 257 bringing it to the best of the list. However it was dinged on whether it was within the designated growth area comprehensive plan and demolition costs resulting in two zeros.
PDT also presented at the meeting a comprehensive report analysis on new vs. renovation for the capital improvement project. The report highlights the benefits of building a new school and compares the costs if the project ends up being a renovation.
The analysis covers Teague Park Elementary, Hilltop Elementary and Caribou Middle School. The report notes, “The three buildings included as part of this assessment are 89 years old, 65 years old and 55 years old,” which puts them past the 40-year life cycle mark for commercial buildings, according to the report.
The combined annual energy costs for the three schools is approximately $184,257. The estimated energy cost for a new Caribou Elementary School could be around $72,000, “A net savings of roughly $112,000 for the first year of operation,” the report states. “This results in an energy savings of over $1.4M over the next 10 years or over $5M over the next 25 years.”
The report also points out that with savings in maintenance, operation and energy costs. “PDT has estimated there also would be savings resulting from a new consolidated building rated to salary savings.
“In two obvious areas of food preparation and custodial and maintenance operation. Presently four custodial staff serve the Caribou Middle School; two at Hilltop Elementary and two at Teague park for a total of eight. PDT estimates a new consolidated building would require a custodial staff of five people resulting in an annual saving of approximately $123,000.”
Each school has two people on food service staff, “PDT estimates food service staff for a consolidated school could be reduced to four or five people resulting an annual savings of $22,000-$44,000,” according to the report.
PDT said the RSU would need to continue the work on the evaluation to determine is there are any other additional savings that might occur in staffing as a result of building consolidation.
PDT closed a summary of the report and stated, “PDT Architects finds that none of the three buildings is suitable for major renovation that would allow the buildings to be continued for another 40-50 years.”
For further information on capital improvement project updates visit RSU39.org.
