Staff Report
HODGDON, Maine — SAD 70 officials got the green light last month to move forward on seeking state assistance to make qualifying improvements at the high school and Mill Pond buildings.
Immediately following the unanimous school board decision Sept. 28, 2015 to apply for a loan through the state’s School Revolving Renovation Fund, completed applications were in the mail to Augusta the next morning. If their projects are selected by the state, the district would qualify for 0 percent financing from the Municipal Bond Bank, according to Superintendent Scott Richardson.
Back in January, school officials learned that numerous repairs should be done at Hodgdon High School, and others could be needed at Hodgdon Mill Pond School after an independent feasibility study of the district was done by the firm Bunker and Savage Architects of Augusta.
Some of the projects cited in the Bunker and Savage report, including staff bathrooms, stairwell guard rails, and roof repairs have already been completed at the high school.
Projects included on the revolving loan application include American Disabilities Act compliance and air quality issues at the high school. Applications for ADA compliance and hazardous materials abatement/removal at Mill Pond were also submitted.
A decision is expected from the state by Feb. 1, 2016. If approved, the district will be required to seek public approval before accepting loan monies.
In other business, school directors agreed to hire Janet Little as a pre-K teacher and Julie Peters as a pre-K ed tech to meet increased demand for youngsters who are ready to start school in the district. Richardson said a third session of pre-K has been added as the existing morning and afternoon sessions are at their 16-student capacity. Currently the second afternoon session has 10 children enrolled with six seats available.
The SAD 70 board also heard from Barbara Robertson who requested a meeting for home-schooling families in the district to hear what opportunities exist to collaborate with their school-based counterparts. It was agreed to meet in the near future.
Directors also heard from high school students Hannah Elland, a sophomore, and junior Kevin McAfee on the reasons they believe Hodgdon High School gives them a solid educational foundation. The students created a brochure listing the positive aspects of their school and handed them to those in attendance.
An overnight trip to southern Maine to tour several colleges was approved with funding to come from the district’s MELMAC and Gear Up grants.
School board member Cindy Hutchinson was nominated by her peers to attend the Mains School Boards Association Assembly as SAD 70’s delegate.
The next meeting of the school board will be Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015 at 7 p.m. in the central office board room.
