HOULTON, Maine — Those who pass by Houlton Middle/Senior High School will soon see some subtle changes to the exterior of the school on Bird Street.
The RSU 29 board learned Monday evening that bids to replace crumbling curbing and sidewalks along the front of the school came in much lower than anticipated which prompted Joseph Schneider, RSU 29’s maintenance/bus director, to suggest a few additional projects to be done to the exterior.
According to Schneider, the facilities and transportation committee met recently and awarded a contract to Steelstone Industries for paving work in front of the high school. For at least the past six months, the board has explored what to do with its concrete sidewalks and curbing located in front of the school. Several sections of curbing had eroded to the point where metal rods were exposed.
The school board, during the budget process back in June, felt replacing that concrete with asphalt was necessary for safety reasons. The area of the school is the main welcoming point for visitors to the school and is also the drop-off location and recreation area for sixth-graders.
The district initially thought the project was going to run in the neighborhood of $70,000.
“The price came in much lower than we had originally anticipated,” Schneider informed the board. “Through change orders, which the committee decided to do, we are going to extend the asphalt to the front doors of the high school. That was work that was going to need to be done in the future.”
Schneider added the new plan also calls for the addition of two basketball hoops along the front of the school and removing the small rotary with a flagpole, so that there is one large open area for students. The flagpole will be relocated to an area near the library.
The entire project will cost about $46,000, Schneider said. The remaining money that was budgeted for the facilities upgrade will be used for other projects the facilities committee deems are necessary. Construction is expected to begin in early August.
The board unanimously approved the paving project for the high school.
Schneider also informed the board that some windows at Houlton Elementary School would be replaced in the next month, as well as repairs to a door at Houlton Southside School.
The facilities/maintenance committee also gave the go-ahead to purchase a pick-up truck to replace a 1977 Dodge after its motor failed.
The next major improvement this summer will be a roofing project at Houlton Elementary School. The bids for that job will be opened at noon Tuesday, Schneider said. Results of those bids will be announced at the next board meeting, scheduled for Monday, Aug. 3, at 6 p.m.
