The Wescott Junior High School Building Committee will be holding a meeting about the proposed new middle school next week.
RenA?© Daniel, chair of the committee, said the Feb. 15 meeting will be an informational meeting for the neighbors abutting the proposed project. However, he said anyone would be welcome at the meeting.
“We are trying to be good neighbors and let the people that live here know what’s going on,” Daniel said. “We want to make them part of the process.”
Last year, Wescott Junior High School placed ninth on the list of 66 schools throughout the state needing renovation or replacement when the Maine Department of Education released its priority list for new school construction.
The state releases its school construction priority list every two years, and on the last list, Wescott placed 29th.
Depending on the cost of the project, the state could approve plans to either renovate the existing building or construct a whole new school.
Daniel said the school project still is just in the conceptual stages, and no plans have been drawn up yet, but he said the committee is looking to be proactive and explore every possible contingency. The committee has begun working on plans to remodel Wescott or build a new school on the same site. The committee even has looked into the possibility of building a school at a new site in the city, although Daniel said no new site has been identified.
“We are open to anything,” he said. “We have no predetermined ideas. We want a school that provides a good learning environment for the kids and a good teaching environment for the teachers.”
School Superintendent Stan Sawyer said there is no timetable for construction to begin. He said that would depend on how quickly the state gives its approval for the project to begin.
Since the state has not indicated whether it would approve construting a new school or renovating the existing school, Daniel said it’s important for the committee to consider every possibility. That will help avoid annecessary delays when the state reaches a decision.
“I want to stay ahead of the curve by looking at every possible angle,” he said.
Whatever direction the school project goes in, Daniel said he wants to make sure the city gets as much money as it can from the state. He said he wants to make sure the city gets a school building that is affordable, “but is the best building for Westbrook.”
Daniel said the committee will also be looking at potential uses for the old school if a new building is built. He said he doesn’t want to see the old school building sit vacant after the new school opens.
The committee meeting, which is open to the public, will be on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. in Wescott Junior High School cafeteria “A,” which is located off the school’s side parking lot. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call Daniel at 854-6843, or City Councilor John O’Hara, who is also chairing the committee, at 854-9309.
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