“We really appreciate the state recognizing the importance of this critical project,” said Portland Schools Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk. “Replacing Hall has been our district’s top priority for building improvements. Securing state funding allows us to move forward with planning for Portland’s remaining mainland elementary schools that need major renovations: Reiche, Lyseth, Presumpscot and Longfellow. Combining state and local funding is the only way we can address our critical needs while reducing the burden on Portland taxpayers.”
Hall is a one-story building on Orono Road in the Deering neighborhood, a short walk from Sagamore Village. Built in 1956, the school has ponds on its roof after rainstorms, rotting wood siding and sills and some building materials that contain asbestos. Hall had an electrical fire in September 2012 that required the
entire school to move elsewhere for two weeks. Traffic flow also is a concern, as is compliance with certain Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
“This is great news for Portland students,” said Senate President Justin Alfond. “The parents and students of Hall School have waited for years. Now, we can build the school our students deserve.”
“I want to thank the Superintendent and his staff, the Commissioner Rier, and the Portland legislative delegation for their assistance with our request,” Mayor Michael Brennan said. “This is a big step for the city and great news for the Hall School. This significant renovation will allow us to put a plan in place for a number of our other elementary school construction projects in the city.”
“Today’s vote is an important milestone,” said Justin Costa, chair of the Portland Board of Public Education’s Operations Committee. “We look forward to working with the state and city on these long overdue elementary school building improvements.
Portland City Councilor Ed Suslovic has also long been a champion of renovating the Hall School.
The Portland Public Schools has conducted several studies over the past 15 years to identify deficiencies in the district’s elementary schools that detract from student learning. Improvements have been made in phases in order to lessen the impact on taxpayers and disruptions to teaching and learning.
During the past seven years, the district built two new schools with state funding - East End Community School (2006) and Ocean Avenue Elementary School (2011) - and renovated and added to Riverton Elementary School (2007) with local funding. Last year, the district launched Buildings for Our Future to address significant needs at the remaining mainland elementary schools. The goal is to ensure that all elementary students attend schools with safe environments designed for academic excellence and 21st century learning.
The district hired Oak Point Associates in 2012 to develop preliminary design plans, tentative construction schedules and estimated costs for projects at Hall, Presumpscot, Lyseth, Reiche, and Longfellow. Oak Point drew on hundreds of hours of community input including one-on-one conversations with parents and teachers, neighborhood design charrettes, focus groups and phone surveys when making its proposals.
The package of renovations recommended by district leadership and the school board includes $11.2 million for Longfellow, $15.3 million for Lyseth, $12.3 million for Presumpscot and $12.2 million for Reiche.
For more information, please visit http://www2.portlandschools.org/buildings-our-future.
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