CARIBOU, Maine — Contractors are hard at work constructing a new administrative building for RSU 39 officials. The building is the first piece of construction for a new pre-kindergarten to grade 8 school project in Caribou, as the project involves closure and demolition of the Caribou Learning Center, where administrators currently are located.
The entire project, costing roughly $45 million and primarily funded by the Maine Department of Education, involves demolition of not only the Caribou Learning Center, but Teague Park Elementary School, the Caribou Middle School, and the former Sincock School Building on Main Street.
J.P. Martin and Sons are the lead contractors on the new administration building at a cost of $524,723 that is fully funded by the state. The project endured a minor setback when workers found “huge pieces of concrete” underground while digging the foundation, according to RSU 39 Superintendent Tim Doak.
The contractors initially estimated the concrete would set the project completion date back from late November to mid-December, but RSU 39 Business Manager Mark Bouchard said they are working hard to finish the project on time.
The Learning Center is scheduled for demolition after the new administration building opens. However, this will not occur until RSU 39 officials are certain the Adult and Alternative Education programs currently housed at the center can be relocated to the high school or vocational center.
After officials have completed their plans for the relocation of programs, RSU 39 Maintenance and Transportation Director Wayne St. Pierre will need to renovate some areas to better accommodate the incoming students, Bouchard said.
This renovation, according to the business manager, will not involve building any additions, but tearing down walls and putting up new ones to create new rooms for the adult and alternative education students.
The finished administration building will include site work from Larry’s Construction, flooring by Sullivan Floor Covering, mechanical work by Patrick St. Peter & Sons, concrete from Masse Construction, painting from Paint By Ray, acoustic treatment by Hawkes Acoustical, and electrical work by County Electric.
