Auburn School Committee hears plan to reconfigure Auburn Middle School, considers roughly $11.2M bond

On Jan. 21, 2026, the Auburn School Committee received the Auburn Middle School (AMS) advisory committee's recommendations to reconfigure AMS as a grades 6–8 middle school and reviewed an architect's concept and timeline for renovations and a small classroom addition.

District staff and consultants said the change aims to align curriculum across grades 6–8, expand access to electives, clubs and athletics, and provide a developmentally appropriate middle-school experience. "First and foremost, the recommendation is creating a grades 6, 7, and 8 middle school," said Scott Anier, assistant superintendent, during the presentation.

Herriman Associates presented a renovation concept including a three-classroom addition on the building’s left side, creation of additional science classrooms, a dedicated music room, a new art room with kiln, a small special-education suite, upgraded single-user toilets, renovated locker rooms, and a secure vestibule with a transaction window. "A lot of the cost is really in maintenance of the building," said Stephen Frasier of Herriman Associates, noting roughly $6.3 million for maintenance/repairs that district staff said would be needed whether or not the 6–8 project proceeds.

Project cost estimates presented to the committee included about $4,890,000 to add space and adapt AMS for sixth-grade programming and a separate kitchen budget of about $626,000 to replace hoods, coolers, freezers and serving-line equipment (the kitchen work would be funded through the school lunch program). Together with the maintenance items, presenters described a bond amount "just below 11.2" million dollars as the current planning target, with potential reductions available through scope adjustments.

Presenters also outlined funding options and timing. Herriman's early service agreement with the district accounts for approximately $130,000 of early planning work, officials said. The district intends to apply for Maine's revolving renovation funds (SRF) next October; staff estimated roughly $1.5 million of SRF-eligible ADA/locker/toilet work could qualify, which would reduce the portion of the bond that must be spent on those items. Officials cautioned SRF awards depend on state priorities and competition.

The presentation identified a non‑capital constraint: National Park Service (NPS) oversight of the site stemming from NPS-funded recreation work in the 1980s. Presenters said permission or an agreement with NPS — or acquiring adjacent replacement land — will be required before the district can build the proposed addition. The district scheduled a meeting with Doug Beck of the National Park Service to discuss options.

Design and procurement milestones presented call for roughly nine months to produce construction drawings, a bid period around March 2027, a construction start in spring 2027, and completion by the end of summer 2028 to permit a fall 2028 move-in of sixth graders. Presenters said further community engagement, committee oversight, and additional approvals would be required before committing to bonding or construction.

Committee members asked about near-term financial exposure and contingency planning. Adam Platts, the city's representative, asked how much the district would spend before a city CIP bond vote; staff said Herriman's $130,000 service agreement covers work to date and that they did not expect significant pre-bond expenditures prior to budget approval. On SRF eligibility, staff said the project aligns with state priorities for ADA upgrades and maintenance but declined to put a probability on funding until comparative data from prior rounds is reviewed.

Next steps presented to the committee include finishing construction drawings (presenters expected to complete those before February), continuing advisory meetings, finalizing the CIP request for the city, applying for SRF funds in October, and resolving NPS land issues before permitting an addition. A formal committee vote on adopting the advisory committee's recommendations and seeking bonding authority was referenced as an upcoming agenda item later in the meeting.