MSAD 51 one‑campus project moves to construction bid openings; groundbreaking set for June 12

MSAD 51 building and district leaders told the tri‑community meeting May 15 that major contracts for the new one‑campus school are out to bid, a public groundbreaking is scheduled for June 12, and related site work is already under way.

Leanne Filson, who spoke for the district building committee, said the largest bid package — covering the new school, the MIW (Mabel I. Williams) addition and traffic/parking reconfiguration — was released last week and the district expects multiple qualified bidders. “That bid opening is on June 10,” Filson said. “The groundbreaking ceremony is on June 12.”

District officials reported recent progress on preparatory work: relocation of the maintenance building has begun, groundwork for the turf field is in progress and the district has placed the turf order. The district expects turf field installation to be complete by mid‑August and the maintenance building work to finish by late November. The projected completion date for the one‑campus project — the new primary building, the MIW addition and other campus components — is June 2027.

Officials repeatedly described the project as both capital construction and operational reconfiguration: when the new school opens the district will rearrange grade assignments and building rosters so the new campus houses pre‑K through first grade, MIW will hold grades 2–4 and GMS will hold grades 5–8. Building committee members noted significant planning for traffic pattern changes, soil remediation and staff re‑rostering, and emphasized the project will be phased to preserve operations during construction.

MSAD 51 Superintendent Jeff Porter and Director of Finance Scott Poulin outlined additional interim steps the district is taking to manage current enrollment pressures: the district will replace and increase modular classrooms behind the middle school for the coming summer and continue other summer capital work. Filson said the district has had portable classrooms on campus for roughly nine years and sought a long‑term campus solution to avoid reliance on portables.

The district invited town officials and residents to the June 12 groundbreaking event at 6 p.m.; the district will circulate event logistics to board and council members. No formal vote on construction contracts was taken at the tri‑community meeting; contract awards will follow the public bid opening and the district’s procurement rules.