ROCKLAND, Maine — Voters from Waldoboro to Islesboro will get to decide in November whether they will approve borrowing $25 million for a new technology center.
The Region 8 Cooperative Board voted 10-0 at its Monday night meeting to approve the final design for the two-story 90,000-square-foot complex that will be located on the local Main Street waterfront property where the current Mid-Coast School of Technology is located.
Ron Lamarre of architect Lavallee Brensinger reviewed the proposed design and cost estimates with the school board for nearly two hours. The facility is planned to be heated through geothermal. The cafe that also serves the public during the spring will be located on the second floor of the complex, which Lamarre said will provide visitors with a view of programs offered in the school.
Board member Tori Manzi of Camden praised the design, saying the facility was “amazing.” But she questioned whether it was being designed too large.
“I know the philosophy is that ‘if you build it, they will come,’” Manzi said, but she questioned whether that will work with the vocational school.
Nearly 350 students attend classes at the vocational school with half during morning classes and half in the afternoon. The vocational programs are half-day classes.
Mazi also voiced concern that the lack of specific information on the financial impact to individual school districts with the vote scheduled for Nov. 8. The administration said that information would soon be provided.
Board member Danny Jackson of Waldoboro abstained from the vote. After the meeting, Jackson said he abstained because he was not pleased that there was not more of an effort to have the school located on a site off Route 1 in Warren that had been the top choice by a selection committee.
The board opted to pass on that project because of a state regulation that prohibits schools on highways where the speed limit is 45 mph or greater.
Jackson said he wished the district had made a greater effort to get a waiver on that restriction.
He pointed out that students from SAD 40, which he represents, spend a lot of time on buses to get to the school in Rockland.
The total $25 million in projects costs would be divided up between the school districts served by the technology center. The main contributors to the project would be the Five-Town Community School District based in Camden, SAD 40 based in Waldoboro and RSU 13 based in Rockland.
If approved by voters, the project then would go out for bids in July 2017 with a contract awarded the following month. Construction would then begin with the new school expected to be ready for occupancy in September 2019. The current 57,000-square-foot building, which was built in 1968 as a marine repair shop, would be demolished during the summer of 2019.
The Region 8 Cooperative Board purchased the property in 1976, and the vocational center opened for students in 1977. Lavallee Brensinger concluded in a report to the vocational school board in January 2015 that the Rockland building was not worth renovating.