Lewiston School Committee reviews $3.9 million FY26 capital plan, budget pressures

The Lewiston School Committee on March 17 reviewed proposed Fiscal Year 2026 capital-improvement requests totaling $3.9 million and a proposed operating budget that would raise local spending 3.44 percent to $117,177,091, while committee members discussed growing enrollment, aging roofs, safety upgrades and cuts to a USDA local-purchasing program.

The capital requests — presented as the district’s FY26 LCIP (Local Capital Improvement Plan) package — cover educational space and building stabilization at 287 Main Street, roof work at Lewiston High School and Lewiston Middle School, ADA and sidewalk work, windows and doors, bathroom redesigns for student supervision, replacement of 25 school‑zone lights and other site improvements. Superintendent Jake Langley said the LCIP requests were driven by the district’s strategic plan and a 10‑year facilities priority list from the state. “It drives our LCIP projects by ensuring we have the resources to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment,” Langley said.

Why it matters

The requests respond to immediate life‑safety and capacity pressures and could affect where students and district programs are housed as enrollment grows. Committee members pressed staff for cost details, timing and the limits of local authority for some site work that overlaps city responsibilities.

Key items and details

- 287 Main Street: The district is proposing up to $1 million in FY26 to stabilize the 50,000‑square‑foot, four‑story building and to begin concept planning for possible educational and program uses. Superintendent Jake Langley said the building is paid for in full and was purchased with unspent prior‑year funds. “That building was purchased with unspent funds from the prior year. That building is…