Saco board forms ad hoc building committee and outlines timeline for new-school planning

The Saco School Committee on July 14 voted to establish an ad hoc building committee and heard a step-by-step timeline from Superintendent Ray for advancing school construction, including designer selection, Department of Education site approval and public hearings.

Resident Kevin Roach urged the board to move quickly on new schools, calling current facilities a ‘‘travesty’’ and asking the community to participate in the planning process.

Superintendent Ray said the district is at step 4 of the process — having selected a designer — and described the next tasks: meeting with the Department of Education, conducting traffic and site studies, and conducting public hearings for site approval. Ray noted state site approval determines grade-level configuration and is essential to receiving state funding: "Site approval includes where it's located what your grade levels are going to be. Huge piece for the city."

Ray described an ambitious timeline that could allow the district to put a bond before voters at the next November election if the committee and subcommittees move quickly, but cautioned the full construction timeline would extend multiple years and that site approval and DOE concept approvals are critical path items.

School board member Preble moved to accept the superintendent’s recommendation to establish the ad hoc building committee; the motion was seconded and passed 6-0. The superintendent and board said there will be additional subcommittees for site selection and grade-level configuration and later public hearings.