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Saco schools lose preferred parcel; board readies backup site and refines educational specs
Summary
Superintendent Ray told the board the district's lead parcel for a planned new school is paused and possibly for sale, prompting the site-selection committee to pursue backup parcels and likely redo site studies; Assistant Superintendent Meg Parkhurst presented educational specifications meant to guide design once a site is chosen.
The Saco Public Schools board was told Wednesday that the district's preferred parcel for a planned new school has been paused and may be for sale, forcing staff to shift to alternative sites and likely repeat traffic, wetland and phase‑one environmental work.
"That was a pause and possible land sale," Superintendent Ray said, noting the loss could force the district to restart preliminary site studies and make it "extremely difficult for us to vote next June." He said the site-selection committee will meet next week to evaluate backup choices.
Assistant Superintendent Meg Parkhurst, who led the board through the educational specifications draft the district will send to the Maine Department of Education, stressed the document reflects nearly a year of program‑committee work, surveys and site visits. "It's intended to be a living document at this point so that we can really ensure that we've accurately captured" community priorities, Parkhurst said.
Parkhurst outlined recurring priorities the committee distilled: stronger access to outdoor spaces, more flexible small‑group instructional areas to limit travel time for students receiving services, dedicated privacy for specialist instruction, and future‑proofed unified arts spaces. She said the board will need to formally approve the specifications but the votetiming depends on site selection and community feedback.
Board members pressed on how the district might secure an alternative parcel. School board member Gail asked whether a nonbinding memorandum of understanding could be used to hold a site while details (wetlands, boundaries) are confirmed; Ray said he needs to consult the Department of Education on what interim agreements are permissible under the state process.
Next steps: the site‑selection committee will reconvene, staff will check DOE guidance on interim steps such as MOUs, and the educational specifications will be revised based on public feedback before returning to the board for a formal vote.
The board did not take a formal vote on a site at the meeting.
