After what at times was a frustrating process, with results often leaving Mt. Ararat High School at the disheartening side of the funding cutoff, School Administrative District 75 officials learned in April the school had finally been approved for a major capital school improvement project.

Eventually the district will have concrete design plans and cost estimates that will involve public hearings and a referendum but those are developments to come much later in the process.

The next step now is to form committees that will be closely involved in developing details of a new school construction or renovation, and the SAD 75 Board of Directors is reaching out to parents and community members willing to serve on these committees.

The school district applied for state school construction funding in all of the cycles since 1999 and in the most recent 2010 cycle, fell one short on the approved list for funding. In April, however, the Maine Department of Education expanded that approved list to include Mt. Ararat High School and five other schools.

The next step in a multistep, complex process is the selection of a designer to provide architectural and engineering services, according to the school district. Once selected, the architect will lead SAD 75 through a 21-step process for major capital development — starting with an analysis of the current building and site to determine whether renovation or new construction will best serve the needs of students.

Typically this study takes six months to complete from the time the architect is selected. The school district will partner with the MDOE to ensure the project is designed to provide quality learning environments for students for the next 40-50 years.

Still very early in the process, teachers, administrators and staff at the high school are working on educational specifications. These specifications describe how programs will be provided and the type of environments needed by students for 21st century learning. They also describe how the building and programs will enhance the life, work and culture of the community. Once approved by the school board, the architect will use these specifications in creating a concept and design for the school.

“The staff is excited — very excited — about the possibilities looking forward,” said Donna Brunette, principal of Mt. Ararat High School. “Creating a facility that supports student learning at high levels is exciting!”

The two-story Mt. Ararat High School was built in 1973 with an “open” classroom concept for grades 7- 12. The school now serves grades 9-12 and is augmented by three portable units providing an additional six classrooms. Many facility upgrades have been made to the school over the years, from heating, ventilation and air conditioning improvements to recent security measures — but educational needs and changes throughout the years have made the school a candidate for major capital improvements.

Since arriving in the district, the most frequent question Superintendent Bradley Smith hears is, “When are you going to do something about the high school?”

“Now that we have been given the approval to begin the process, the most common question is, ‘Will you build new or remodel?’” Smith writes in an announcement about the forming committees.

“The short answer is, ‘We don’t know,” Smith said. “One of the first responsibilities of the architect will be to study the existing building and grounds and determine which option is best for our project.”

Thus the school board is looking for one parent or community member to serve on the Designer Selection Committee, which will select an architect for the project by following a process outlined by the state. This committee will meet several times over the next few months, which could include both day and evening meetings. The process may involve visitations to other schools.

Committee members will work to identify qualities SAD 75 desires in an architectural or engineering firm; review applications and select firms to be interviewed; participate in interviews and recommend an architect to the school board.

The board is also looking for two parents or community members for the Building Committee, which are positions requiring a long-term commitment. This committee may be active as long as five years and will meet at least once per month for the duration of the project. This committee will work with the architect and sub-committees, develop the concept and design of the project and oversee the process from construction through completion

Additionally, there will be numerous sub-committees formed to address specific aspects of the school design through this process. The work of these committees will be of a shorter duration and will be focused on specific areas.

Anyone interested in serving on committees should in a letter to the district, indicate if they are interested in the Building Committee, Designer Selection Committee or a sub-committee; answer why they are interested in serving; what experience, skills or interests they have that will help the committee(s); answer if they are prepared to commit to the time required; and include their contact information.

Parties interested in serving on the Designer Selection Committee must submit their letters of interest by Dec. 10, 2014; and by Jan. 12, 2015 for the Building Committee and sub-committees. Letters must be mailed to: Office of Superintendent of Schools, Attn: Mt. Ararat HS Building Project, 50 Republic Ave., Topsham, ME 04086.

Parents and community members who are interested in serving on committees associated with the project can find more information and committee applications on the district website at www.link75.org.