The Brunswick School Board’s Facilities Committee met Wednesday night to discuss Saturday’s meeting with abutters to a proposed new elementary school and give feedback on new designs.

School Board Chairman William Thompson said Saturday’s meeting was well attended by those living in the Jordan Acres neighborhood and remarks were overwhelmingly positive.

Concerns were raised, however, about the secondary entrance to the new school site through Charles Court, with width of the street being the primary issue.

Thompson said some were questioning what times delivery trucks would be using the street.

Board member Teresa Gillis told of two people who were opposed to the new project. One was an abutting neighbor at the corner of Charles Court and the school property, and the other whose backyard will overlook the school.

Thompson said talks took place regarding the placement of privacy fencing along the back of the school to address neighbors’ concerns. Thompson said neighbors were heard and the school will continue to work with them and any concerns they have through the process.

Gillis said that not only were the majority of attendees in favor of the new school, but many were “excited” at the prospect of having an active school once again in their community.

Lyndon Keck of PDT Architects showed the committee an updated set of drawings for the new school, addressing early concerns about having a more “classical” architectural appearance.

Panels that appeared toward the roofline in original drawings have now been replaced by additional brick and courses of precast concrete banding. Windows were also toned down from the more contemporary designs proposed in earlier drawings.

Thompson, who has been outspoken about favoring more classical architecture in schools, said the new drawings are “definitely making progress.”

The final product could be about twice the size of the former Jordan Acres Elementary School and will be divided into a “house” system, with two distinct communities within the same building.

A remaining detail is whether to design the school with geothermal climate control. In previous discussions, Keck said geothermal would be more efficient if the school building were to be in use during the summer.

Given the amount of summer programming HBS has seen recently, Superintendent Paul Perzanoski said it would be likely the school would be a year-round facility. Because of new proficiency based grading, Perzanoski said schools will likely have to offer some form of remedial instruction during the summer.

The school board is expected to vote on the fate of geothermal issue at its Oct. 12 meeting. A final price tag will be delivered by Keck at the October 19 meeting.

dmcintire@timesrecord.com