ROCKLAND, Maine — The Rockland-area school board gave the go-ahead Thursday night to $8.1 million in energy conservation projects that could begin before the end of the current school year.
Superintendent John McDonald reiterated to the board that the projects will not cost taxpayers any money because Siemens Energy is financing the work, which will be repaid by the district through energy savings as well as reduced operational costs that will result from the consolidation of buildings within the district.
“We won’t have to open windows in the middle of January,” board member Loren Andrews said about the energy improvements.
Upgrades at Oceanside High School East in Rockland will cost the most for any single building, with energy conservation projects estimated at $2.5 million. The district also is considering expanding the cafeteria but that was not one of the projects approved Thursday night.
At Oceanside East, the proposed replacement of the ventilation system is estimated to cost $1 million. Some of the other large projects include $549,000 for replacing windows, $331,000 in heating system upgrades and $231,000 in lighting improvements.
Siemens is recommending $1.4 million in improvements to the Oceanside West building, which will become Oceanside Middle School.
Another $2.3 million is proposed for similar improvements at what is being called Rockland Elementary School, which is the South School and Rockland District Middle School.
Another $1 million is proposed for the current Thomaston Grammar School, which is proposed to become the Lura Libby Elementary School. The existing Lura Libby school in Thomaston is proposed to be closed under the consolidation plan. Thomaston voters are scheduled to vote on whether to close Lura Libby on June 14. If residents vote to keep Lura Libby open, additional costs would be borne solely by Thomaston.
Less than $100,000 in energy improvements are proposed at the Cushing Community School.
No improvements are proposed for the Owls Head Central School or the Gilford Butler School in South Thomaston. The consolidation plan calls for closing Gilford Butler by the start of the 2017-2018 school year.
The board voted to hire WBRC Architects/Engineers of Portland and Bangor to assist in the classroom configuration to handle the planned movement of students. Merriam Architects was hired to work on the possible expansion of the Owls Head school if Gilford Butler is closed and those students relocated to Owls Head.