Staff Writer
ASHLAND – The SAD 32 board of directors awarded a bond anticipation note for the construction of a new pre-kindergarten to grade 12 school to Key Bank.
According to business manager Charlie Anderson, the district received four responses to the bid request. “The district went to bid this month on temporary financing of $1.2 million for the new building project,” said Anderson. “This amount will allow us to pay bills until the State Board of Education approves permanent financing of the project later this spring.”
With a 2.25 percent interest rate and net interest of $32,773.14, Key Bank was awarded the low bid.
“It’s interim financing,” said Superintendent Gehrig Johnson. “It’s a borrowing mechanism that will tide us over until the money is released from the state for the project. Most of our costs right now are architectural expenses, which are some large amounts. Our architects are working and we need to pay them.”
Johnson told directors that the architects – Lewis & Malm Architecture of Bucksport – are presently working on the plans for the new school.
“During the next two months,” said Johnson, “the architects will be refining the plans. We’re still hoping to have everything ready and prepared to go to the State Board at its May meeting. We’re still on target in terms of our timeline.”
Also at the March 17 meeting, directors:
• Received an update on the school consolidation process, which Johnson said is “in a holding pattern.”
“We’re waiting for the Legislature to act on a number of issues that would affect us,” he said. “We’re also waiting for final funding numbers, and any changes that might be incorporated into the new consolidation law.”
• Reappointed Julie Cyr, Diana O’Clair and Traci McBride for the 2008-09 school year. Those teachers have completed one year of satisfactory teaching.
• Awarded tenure status to Benjamin Potvin, Melanie Cote, Bethann Montpetit, Catherine Packard and Nancy Truman, who have completed two years of satisfactory teaching.
• Reappointed Ashland Central School teachers Kim Haines, Bonnie McNally, Cheryl Raymond, Rena Levesque, Michelle Beaulier, Elaine Millett, William Nemer and Denise Campbell.
• Reappointed middle school teachers Teri-Lyn Driscoll and Shari Ward.
• Reappointed high school teachers Melanie Baker, Laura Howes, Peter Belskis, Ron Stevens, Joel Hall, Paul Ouellette, Jan Perry, Susan Beaulier, Sarah Brooks and Robin Donovan.
The next regular meeting of the SAD 32 board of directors will be at 6 p.m. Monday, April 14 at the Ashland Community High School cafeteria.
