Great Salt Bay CSD board moves to finance multimillion-dollar repairs after mold closure

Superintendent John told the Great Salt Bay CSD board the district closed a section of Nobleboro Central School after HL Turner testing found very high mold and carbon‑particle readings in the older part of the building, including basement readings that exceeded 1,900 parts per cubic meter. "We have to close it," John said, describing the immediate steps taken: sealing the lobby, using plastic containment and running negative‑air scrubbers before students returned.

The board heard a three‑stage plan for remediation and reconstruction. John described removing contaminated bathroom walls, excavating foundation drains to address water infiltration, installing new basement air handlers, and replacing inaccessible roof‑mounted mechanicals with units located in the basement for future serviceability. "The best part of that is in the future when you have to go down and change a filter or a belt ... you can walk up to it and work on it," he said.

District estimates presented to the board include $2,283,933 for remediation and rebuilding of the affected section (which includes about $100,000 for furniture, fixtures and equipment and roughly $300,000 in contingency) and $2,173,000 to replace mechanical systems in the 1990 section. Taken together, the board was told, the combined package is roughly $4.4 million. The superintendent emphasized contingency uncertainty: "It could be the wall is fine ... or we may have to take everything up to the studs."

Board members discussed funding paths. The state’s revolving renovation fund was described as a potential source (the superintendent said districts can request up to $2 million, with an application window that must be met by October). The board also weighed a lease‑purchase arrangement versus a traditional bond. Staff explained that a lease purchase can be structured like a mortgage (allowing early payoff and applying efficiency rebates toward principal), while a bond requires a town vote and forces full interest costs regardless of early payoff. Example rates discussed were roughly 5% for a revolving/lease arrangement and near 3.5% for a bond, though board members noted final rates will depend on bank bids.

Insurance may also reduce net costs. The district’s environmental‑policy carrier sent an industrial hygienist and loss‑claim staff to inventory discarded items; the superintendent said the insurer "may cover some stuff" but that final coverage was pending their review.

On a motion to engage EI to develop a lease‑purchase financing plan and return with detailed numbers for a later vote, the board voted in favor and authorized staff to seek term and cost estimates from lenders and EI. The motion gives the board authority to engage a financing consultant and obtain multiple bidding options, but the board said it will return for a vote on the specific project scope (mechanicals only, one wing, or the full package) once numbers are in hand.

The board and staff set an aspirational schedule to have work done before the next school year (late August/early September), noting the district might delay the opening by a week if necessary. Superintendent John said short‑term measures have kept the occupied side's air quality within acceptable ranges (most readings were in the low 40s or non‑detectable).