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Hartford Sumner paving plan, parking expansion and tree removal draw board discussion
Summary
District facilities director presented a plan to expand parking and improve drop-off safety at Hartford Sumner Elementary School. The project would enlarge the staff parking area, reconfigure lanes and remove a large roadside tree cited as a safety hazard; staff said the contractor can complete the work before school starts if authorized.
The Western Foothills RSU 10 board discussed a proposal to extend the Hartford Sumner Elementary School parking lot and reconfigure drop-off lanes to address safety concerns caused by on-street parking and limited circulation.
Devin Roberts, the district’s building, grounds and transportation director, described the scope: cutting back the grassed area adjacent to the road to create additional staff parking, adding lane space for pickup and drop-off, creating or extending sidewalks, and installing concrete barriers and painted crosswalks.
Devin said the project was put out to bid and that one contractor reported they could complete the work before school starts; he told the board the current parking count is “approximately 25” and that the new layout would be determined after final measurements if the bid is awarded. "I don't know that answer off the top of my head. I would say there's approximately 25 currently, please don't quote me on that," Devin said when asked about exact counts.
Tree removal: the plan requires removing a large tree in front of the school. Deb (district superintendent) told the board the tree had been the source of safety concerns: "It's a safety situation. It's it's not a real healthy tree, and a person's car got smashed by a branch coming down. And heavens forbid, that was a person or a child...we have to take the tree down," she said, and invited community members with concerns to speak with her directly.
Board members asked for follow-up materials. One board member requested diagrams so members could respond to public questions; Devin said he would distribute drawings and diagrams by email once the detailed layout is completed. The board also discussed past rework of the parking area and options including limiting the area to drop-off only, but Devin said space constraints limit alternatives and the proposed layout prioritizes staff parking while preserving a bus lane and parent drop-off lane.
Next steps: staff indicated the item will return on a future agenda for formal action; if the board authorizes moving ahead, final measurements and a formal bid award will define the number of added spaces and the construction schedule. During the meeting, board members and staff emphasized the project's safety rationale and urged staff to share diagrams and timelines with the community.
Ending: District staff will provide drawings and a clearer construction schedule to the board and the public before seeking final authorization to award the contract.
