TOPSHAM

The Designer Selection Committee appointed by the School Administrative District 75 Board of Directors decided Thursday night to interview its top choices for architect firms a second time before choosing one over the other.

Gathered in the District Office conference room, the committee considered making the decision at its meeting Thursday, reminded by Superintendent Brad Smith that the district needs to choose a firm soon and move ahead with the 21-step process guiding its school construction project. The Designer Selection Committee work is step 4.

The district was on the cusp of state funding for Mt. Ararat High School in the state Department of Education’s last rating cycle for major capital school projects. In April 2014 the state Board of Education gave the go-ahead for the district to move forward with a project. An analysis of a new building versus a renovation is the next step once an architect is selected, followed by site selection.

Following site visits to schools built by both firms, which included new construction and remodeled structures, members of the Designer Selectmen Committee reviewed information and the pros and cons of each firm for about three hours but remained split on their top choice.

Discussing how they could reach a consensus, the nine-member committee decided to hold interviews again with the two firms, to ask some specific questions of each. If schedules align those interviews will take place Tuesday.

More information can be found by clicking on the MTA school construction news link on the SAD 75 website at www.link75.org.

dmoore@timesrecord.com