School Construction Project Gets First Donation
Voters Decide Fate of $58 million bond this month
BAR HARBOR—The first donation has come in for the Conners-Emerson Rebuild project, a proposed $58 million reconstruction for the ailing schools that have suffered boiler failures, walls pulling away from the foundation, and multiple water leaks just this year, failures which has been compounded by a lack of physical space to serve student and staff needs. The donation was for $1,000.
School Board Chair Alexandra (Lilea) Simis said that the committee members working on the project are great and hoped that no one will let their fear over cost drive their decision at the polls this June 13, which is when and where the voters will approve or reject the project. And when it comes to fundraising?
“We’re barking up every tree that we can,” she said. She added, “The best investment any of us can make is in our new generation. We have Band-Aid, Band-Aid, Band-Aid. We really can’t afford to not build a new school.”
The fundraising committee has contacted numerous potential donors, most of whom, they’ve said, are supportive but want to wait to see if the voters will support the project before donating to it.
“I am just excited that we can begin to feel the support for our kids. I am really hopeful that it will inspire others to give as well,” Simis said.
Currently, the fundraising committee has seven people and it is open to anyone interested in joining them to get the word out, ask for donations, organize an event, and come to meetings, Simis said.
“We have talked with several banks in Bar Harbor, the Jackson Lab and hand written many letters to people and groups that we think have potential to give to a project like this. I personally have written 42 letters,” she said. “I think it is so important to support our schools. We are not able to serve our kids in the way they need, and deserve to be served, in our current buildings. I have said many times that the best investment we can make is in the next generation. Giving the kids in our community a solid beginning will set them up for personal success in their future.”
Recently, the school has started to release short videos about the need for a new school.
If there are no other donors or grants to help defray the costs, the $58 million would have differing impacts on tax payers per $100,000 in valuation depending on the length of the bond the town takes out on the project. The impact also varies according to the rate of the bond. The figures below are per $100,000 of property valuation and are at bond rates of 3%. The bond may come in a bit less than that.
There are approximately 330 students currently at the school. However, there will be two pre-k classes in the future. Simis has said that if the town’s plans to increase affordable housing occur, that could also mean more students. Though it wasn’t mentioned at the meeting, the Comprehensive Planning Committee data also shows that the largest growing age demographic is currently 25-34, which is also the age where many have children.
School Superintendent Mike Zboray said that the building is flexible in its use and would fit nicely with the first model of potential reorganization. That model calls for five prekindergarten to fifth grade district elementary schools and the placement of one of those schools in Bar Harbor. It would serve both Bar Harbor and Mount Desert.
According to interim Town Manager Sarah Gilbert, donations for the school construction project can be dropped off at the Finance Department on the main floor of the town’s Municipal Building or mailed in to 93 Cottage Street.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
Cost For Potential School Lowered By $3 Million
The school construction project website, click here.
For our article about the cost and structural issues, including photos and more information click here.
Total Reorganization? New Early Release Days?
*The town has not released the name of the donor and are seeing if the donor wants their name publicly available.