Wellness committee asks board to fund engineering review for proposed RSU 26 outdoor pavilion

Wellness committee members presented an outdoor pavilion concept sited near the high school entrance and asked the board to consider allocating district funds to pay for a civil‑engineering package needed for a planning‑board submission.

The committee said labor would be provided in‑kind by a University of Maine construction engineering technology program, which reduces construction labor costs substantially. The committee estimated material and optional electrical costs at roughly $20,000–$21,300 for a modest version and noted that contractor estimates for a similar structure commonly run higher; some online quotes for comparable projects reached $50,000–$100,000. Committee members said grants and Friends of Orno Schools contributions could cover much of the material cost but that an engineering submission (estimated at about $5,000) was needed to move the project through local permitting.

Noah and other committee members described design choices (peer support versus mound/retaining wall, roof pitch, and material options) and noted tree‑board and public‑works staff had been consulted. The board asked for a written quote from a civil engineer and agreed to consider funding the planning submission at a future meeting.

Why it matters: The pavilion could provide outdoor learning and performance space for the three schools, reduce long‑term construction labor costs through a partnership, and require municipal planning review. The committee asked for modest district investment to advance permitting.