TOPSHAM

With a new high school project underway, School Administrative District 75 is conducting the first of its public visioning sessions from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday at Mt. Ararat High School.

PDT, the architectural firm for the project, has begun working with the district’s Building Committee on a regular basis. The firm is hosting the meeting Tuesday night, and a second from 7-8:30 p.m. June 4. These public visioning meetings will give community members an opportunity to participate in the project.

“The goal of theses visioning community events is to hear ideas, concerns and suggestions from the communities of MSAD 75,” according to a statement from PDT. “We want to share with the communities the process and schedule for the project in the upcoming year. Most importantly, we aspire to make the MSAD 75 communities aware of the project and provide opportunities for participation.”

The meetings will take place in Mt. Ararat High School Commons, with tours available following the meeting for anyone interested.

The Building Committee, chaired by John Hodge, will continue to meet throughout this project.

“The building committee looks forward to the opportunity to hear from the public on their ideas and vision of our high school,” Hodge said. “This effort is a community wide effort which will rely on many voices to achieve a school which will make us all proud.”

“As we embark on this journey, it is important that we hear from our community,” said Superintendent Brad Smith. “There will be multiple opportunities for this, and it is exciting to see this first formal event taking shape.”

Smith added: “This process will have a huge impact on our four towns — not just the students, but the entire communities of Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell and Topsham. We want to build a school that reflects the needs of today and anticipates the changing dynamics of the future. Any school, but particularly a high school, plays a defining role in the community. We want this school to belong to all four communities, and to be used by them with pride.”

There will be future opportunities for anyone unable to attend these two public meetings, including future public meetings and straw votes to be scheduled over the next several years.

Information about the project, including agendas, meeting notes and a place to comment can be found on the SAD 75 website at www.link75.org by clicking on the MTA construction icon on the right hand side; or visit construction. link75.org.