CARIBOU, Maine — Hilltop, Teague Park and the Caribou Middle School buildings are all slated to receive structural attention from the state, but someone has to first come in to determine what needs to be done.
Administrators of RSU 39 are currently working to see who that someone will be.
The RSU sent out a request for architects/engineering firms to submit their qualifications for this Major Capital Improvement Project, and seven potential candidates sent in hundreds of pages outlining why they’re the best for the job.
Currently reviewing those qualifications are members of the RSU 39’s building committee, which is made up of Superintendent Susan White; RSU 39 school board members Clifford Rhome, Kent Forbes and John Sjostedt; RSU Business Manager Mark Bouchard and Caribou City Manager Austin Bleess, as well as Justin Powers, Sam Collins, Frank McElwain, Wayne St. Pierre and Charlie Anderson.
White couldn’t be more pleased with her committee members, and they’re looking to begin interviewing the potential firms and companies in the new year.
“All of these candidates build schools in Maine — they know the process and they’re a tremendous resource,” White said, placing her hand on the stack of binders, books and packets that were sent in. “It’s finding that person we want to work with and beginning the project.”
Until that selected designer figures out what the RSU needs, no one knows what’s in the construction, renovation, upgrade or improvement future for the Caribou schools.
White was first informed that the RSU had a capital improvement project this summer, and little has changed regarding any specifics as to what that project is.
“Do I know what I want? Yes — who doesn’t want a new school?” she asked. “But we’re going to take what we can get, and it’s funded unless the community chooses to do other things.”
The RSU’s Major Capital Improvement Project application was submitted in 2010, back when Superintendent Susan White was still the principal of the Caribou Middle School.
That three-inch thick application was the first step in a 21-step process. Four years later, the RSU has just arrived at step four’s doorstep and will be determining which project designer they’ll select for this undertaking.
The next part of the process brings an analysis of “new versus renovation,” and after that comes site review. It’s not until step nine that concept design begins, and actual construction is step 20.
“Do I know what the project is? No. Am I closer to knowing? Yes,” White explained. “Trust me, if we had this big project (figured out), I couldn’t contain my excitement and I would be telling everyone.”
Though the Capital Improvement Construction Project does have a very linear 21-step process, it doesn’t have a timeline.
The closest White has for a long-term date on her calendar is a rough estimation of when the project could obtain funds.
Speaking with Director of School Facilities Major Capital School Construction Program for the Maine Department of Education Scott Brown, White and Assistant Superintendent Lois Brewer had an opportunity to speak of a potential bond spring of 2018. Bonding is step 19 in the process; step 20 is construction.
White cautiously clarified that the spring of 2018 for potential bonding is only if everything stays on track, with no setbacks or delays through the entire process.
“As with anything in construction, sometimes it begins moving fast and then it gets bogged down,” she emphasized.
Though any specifics for the school building project have yet to be determined, its need is a hard fact.
State officials have inspected all of the RSU 39’s schools, which is what placed Teague Park, Hilltop and the Caribou Middle School on the Major Capital Improvement Project list.
In the rating cycle of 2010-11, 71 schools had requested projects. Of that list, Teague Park ranked tenth, Caribou Middle School came in at 19 and Hilltop was a bit farther down at 62.
White explained that the state funded the first six schools on the list initially, but Teague Park’s 10th place ranking didn’t warrant a project until the Department of Education created a second tier of funding.
“Teague Park is now in the mix,” she said.
When submitting that 2010 application, administration encompassed the whole district because, as White explained, consolidation is a big factors when the state starts looking at projects. With consolidation being a trend for school projects and Caribou’s pre-K through eighth-grade schools on the list for construction projects, Teague Park’s necessary attention shines a light on Hilltop and the Caribou Middle School.
Though it’s higher in the priority ranking, Teague Park isn’t RSU 39’s oldest school. It was built in 1950, while the Caribou Middle School dates back to 1926. The Caribou Learning Center, which also houses the Superintendent’s Office, was also built in 1950. The Caribou High School was built in 1966, with the Caribou Regional Technology Center added in 1974. The newest school in the RSU is the Limestone Community School, which was built in 1972.
The process for the RSU’s school building project will be long and continuing, but White looks forward to sharing information with the community as it becomes available.
“I just think we’re going to have a lot of great news going forward,” she said with a smile.
