RSU 10 board flags septic failure, roof and radio equipment as urgent capital needs; asks staff for prioritized cost estimates

An emergency septic failure at Hartford Sumner Elementary, a leaking skylight at Buckfield Junior‑Senior High and aging radio communications equipment on Black Mountain emerged as the board's highest facilities priorities at RSU 10's meeting on Oct. 21.

Superintendent Deb reported that district staff discovered a sinkhole at Hartford Sumner and found the pump house tank ‘‘deteriorating’’ with ‘‘several large cracks’’; one pump was ‘‘completely burned out’’ and the other ‘‘severely clogged.’’ Deb said the tank itself is ‘‘beyond repair’’ and staff have arranged temporary pumping to keep the school operational while they solicit vendors and plan a permanent replacement. DND Excavation has performed temporary work and Vortex is scheduled to pump out sewage and sand prior to replacement, the superintendent said.

Board members described the situation as an emergency and asked for prompt, itemized cost estimates. ‘‘If it freezes tomorrow … we need to take care of this,’’ said a board member during discussion about…