The RSU 4 Board of Directors voted unanimously to submit a School Revolving Renovation Fund (SRRF) application to the state for safety and security improvements at Libby Tozier School.

The vote followed a detailed presentation from Jamie Willette of Harriman & Associates, who described the SRRF submission as an estimate based on a narrative and a third‑party cost estimator rather than contractor bids. Willette said, “This is an estimate of the work based on a narrative. It is not an actual bid from a contractor.”

Campus security upgrades described in the application include replacing exterior doors, installing door‑monitoring contacts, adding card‑reader access points, hardening vestibule glazing and the transaction window, and a security vestibule. The proposal’s Appendix A lists line items and contingencies, including hazardous‑materials testing and mitigation, and a $30,000 allowance for exterior signage to clearly identify the main entrance.

Why it matters: SRRF is a state program that can help districts fund building work; if RSU 4’s application is awarded, the district would pay a share of the project over a multi‑year term and must subsequently approve moving forward in public if the grant is accepted. Willette said selected applicants will be notified by about Jan. 31, 2026, and that the district must later vote publicly to proceed before construction documents and contractor bids.

Board members pressed for financial and long‑term planning context. Board member Scott cautioned that while the grant opportunity is valuable, the district is entering budget season and must weigh short‑term gains against recurring costs; he asked whether the district should instead consider consolidation. Board member Doug noted the consolidation committee had previously recommended closing both small buildings; Doug said he would “personally not advocate for doing that right now,” but urged the board to keep long‑range facility plans in mind when deciding to invest. Other members, including Diane and Nancy, said the district had already spent money on the application work and that applying now preserves the funding option while leaving time to finalize long‑term decisions before committing to construction.

Financial details discussed during the meeting included:
- A $20,000 preliminary study item in the application for Harriman’s work to prepare the submission.
- An architectural/engineering line shown in the application of $68,275 based on state percentage allowances (discussed as 11.2% of construction subtotal in the estimate).
- The SRRF program’s repayment term is likely to be 10 years for projects above $500,000 (per the district’s inquiry to the state), which Willette and the superintendent characterized as spreading the district share across that term. The superintendent cited an illustrative annual payment of about $32,000 under that repayment scenario.
- Contingency line items for hazardous‑materials consulting and remediation were included because Willette said “if you don’t show it in here and you do have it, then you would need to find the dollars for that.”

The board also discussed project scope items that were excluded or treated separately: mechanical ventilation for two front‑office rooms was described as a modest mechanical task that the district is considering doing as a separate project rather than as part of the SRRF safety scope. The application includes hardened glazing for vestibule windows and a bullet‑resistant transaction window at the visitor counter; Willette clarified the estimate refers to “bullet‑resistant” glazing rather than implying it is literally bulletproof.

Next steps: The board authorized the superintendent to submit the SRRF application. If awarded, the district has further decisions to make—selecting an architect, developing construction documents, bidding the work, and voting in public on whether to proceed with construction if the award and final pricing are acceptable. Several trustees requested follow‑up work to examine consolidation committee materials and to prepare budget scenarios before any construction contract is approved.

Votes at a glance: The board approved submission of the SRRF application for Libby Tozier School by a unanimous voice/hand vote.

Speakers quoted in this article are identified in the speakers list below, and the transcript excerpts supporting the coverage are provided in the provenance section.