HODGDON, Maine — Construction on a number of renovations projects have either been completed or a nearing completion for the two school buildings in SAD 70 thanks to a $1.3 million bond approved by voters last spring.
Many of those projects involved making Hodgdon Middle-High School and Mill Pond Elementary School more ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant, including
putting in lifts for the staging areas at the elementary and high school; upgrading bathrooms at both schools to make them handicapped-accessible; and widening numerous doorways and entrances throughout the high school.
“Most of the high school and elementary school was ADA compliant, but there were a few areas we had to address,” explained SAD 70 Superintendent Scott Richardson.
One of the largest construction projects involved the construction of a new elevator at Hodgdon Middle/High School that involved moving the existing elevator to a different part of the building.
Richardson said while the elevator shaft has been completed, contractors have yet to install the new elevator. That project is expected to begin sometime in November, with minimal impact to the students, he added. The school currently does not have an elevator as the old one has been removed.
Although there are currently no students in the middle-high school that are in wheelchairs, Richardson said having an elevator is mandatory since students may have to travel to the second story for classes and down to the first floor to access the cafeteria, library and gymnasium.
Moving the elevator was advised because it opened on the second floor inside a classroom, instead of a hallway.
“The elevator needed to be replaced because of its age and the fact that it was not ADA compliant,” he said. “The new elevator will be state-of-the-art.”
Other projects at the high school included a renovation to the girls locker room; repair of exterior brickwork; and the installation of a new fire alarm system at the high school.
The total loan was in the amount of $1,301,893 and of that figure, $379,330 will be spent on repairs at Mill Pond Elementary School and $922,563 will go toward upgrades at Hodgdon High School.
Richardson said because the loan is being procured through the state’s Revolving Renovation Fund, 64.25 percent of the note ($836,467) will be forgiven, meaning the district will only have to pay back $465,426. The district plans to do this through a 10-year, 0 interest bond that will cost the district about $46,600 per year.
