FREEPORT

A planned combined renovation/addition project at Freeport High School is moving forward.

“After a long time, I finally get to do this,” said Regional School Unit 5 Board Chairman Nelson Larkins on Wednesday, before asking the board to approve a resolution to issue the bonds to pay for the costs.

Wednesday’s unanimous approval by the board was a long time coming, having been delayed during the debate over RSU withdrawal.

Voters in Freeport, Pownal and Durham approved the nearly $14.7 million bond to renovate the school in November 2013 while rejecting funds for a new track and field.

When Durham and Pownal voters rejected an earlier renovation bond in June 2013, a number of Freeport residents reacted by attempting to withdraw Freeport from the RSU.

That withdrawal proposal failed at the ballot box in November 2014.

The withdrawal effort caused a delay in moving the project forward for about a year. During that time, costs rose.

“Construction inflation is what happened,” said Lyndon Keck of PDT Architects in an interview.

As a result, the RSU building committee had to explore ways to save about $688,000, according to advisory committee Chairman John Simoneau.

To achieve that amount of savings, the addition’s square footage was reduced by 3,200 square feet, said Keck.

“We had to put the plan on a diet,” said Abigail Cram of PDT.

RSU 5’s board of directors also got an update on the renovation/addition plans.

An old concrete block building adjacent to the gym that used to house the industrial arts program and now houses art programs will be demolished, and a new, twostory addition built.

The entrance-level of the school will house so-called “future labs,” classroom-size spaces that can open onto adjacent classrooms or hallways in order to be used for performance, art, or project spaces.

PDT also reviewed changes to the library, cafeteria, music room and other areas.

According to Cram, energy consumption at the school will remain the same as current levels, despite the new addition.

Other additions include a new wood-frame garage for facility management and storage for the Freeport Performing

Arts Center.

Renovations to the existing structure includes new floor finishes and new, highefficient LED lighting.

The “dangerously steep” grading near the student drop-off area will be reduced and the number of visitor’s parking spaces increased, said Keck.

During construction, four portable units in addition to the two portable buildings already on site will be used to house students whose classrooms may be displaced.

The entire art program will be transplanted for two years.

The new addition will not be designed to hold a future third floor, which had been part of earlier plans.

The project will include re-roofing.

More detailed plans will be forthcoming, said Simoneau.

The project is projected to come in under budget to the tune of $11.29 million, according to the latest cost estimates.

Keck warned the RSU board not to get to comfortable with the projection, however.

“These numbers change, literally, every week. But this shows we’re on target,” said Keck.

He later added that there are “always surprises,” noting changes in the cost of steel and other building materials.

Cram said bidding will start at the end of August and construction may begin in October.

jswinconeck@timesrecord.com