The New School Project:

SAD 46 - Dexter, Exeter, Garland and Ripley -   Four communities united in building a better tomorrow for our children today  

MSAD #46 K-8 School 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) 

1. What is the roadmap out ahead?

Please see the timeline link of this web site.   Project Timeline

2. What is the position of the School Board members regarding the construction of a K-8 school?

The SAD #46 School Board is unanimously in favor of building this new K-8 School.

3. Who is the bean counter on the school board?  Is the cost going to be more or less than now?

Final analysis is not completed yet, although we expect the operating costs to be similar to the 7 facilities we are proposing to close.  Impact on the local taxpayer will be significantly less, building the new school, than maintaining current ageing facilities through the use of local municipal dollars.  The State of Maine will fund approximately 99% of this new school project with no requirement to pay back the money.

4. Where will the new school be built?

The school district has a purchase option agreement on approximately 49 acres of property on the Fern Road, off Rt. 94, in Dexter.  The property is currently owned by Ronald and Rosena Fern.

5. What will happen to the students in Ripley if the school is moved to East Dexter?

All students in SAD #46 will be transported by bus to the new K-8 School.

6. What is the effect on the local taxpayer?

According to the Tax Assessor in Dexter the following numbers are projected tax increases on the local taxpayer based on the three local cost options listed.

Scenarios

Local Cost of New School -    $150,000.        $250,000.        $350,000.       

Home Valuation                     

            $50,000.                                  $2.00/Year       $4.50/Year       $6.50/Year                              

            $75,000.                                  $3.00/Year       $6.75/Year       $9.75/Year

            $100,000.                                $4.00/Year       $9.00/Year       $13.00/Year

7. What will we do with the Garland, Exeter, and DMS/DPS school buildings?

An Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee has been formed to work with the 4 communities of the school district to determine what the best solution for each individual town is.

8. Will the administrative offices now located on Main St. and Spring St. be located on the new school site?

The board of directors, in keeping with the vision of internal consolidation, is proposing that the 2 administrative offices located downtown be moved to the new facility as well.

9. Will we need more administrators if we build a new school?

SAD #46 will not need more administrators than it currently has in the schools which are to be closed.  The board of directors will look very closely at all staffing levels for the new school to identify areas where reduction in personnel may be realized.

10. Will we have to buy more busses?

SAD #46 will not have to purchase additional busses to cover bus runs to the new school.  Transportation Director Mike Keyte expects to travel approximately 8 miles less per day to the new school with no significant change in the current bus schedules.

11. What specific restrictions/guidelines has the state given us for this project?

The State will provide funding for facilities so all children have the same opportunity to achieve the Maine Learning Results.  Specific guidelines for a K-8 school project can be found at the Maine Department of Education website:  www.maine.gov/education.

12. What resources/programs will be enhanced for the students if a K-8 facility is built?  Is there an extra cost for these programs?

All programs will be enhanced by the new school project with Science, the availability of labs; Music; Theatre; Library Media Center, and Computer Technology space being enhanced the most.  At this time, there are no new programs beginning with the new school.  All new program requests will be considered, just as they are now, through the board of directors and the program alignment with the district vision.

13. How many K-5 students from Garland and Exeter currently attend school in Dexter?  How many Special Ed. Students?

Exeter/Garland Students in Dexter, 30 of 147 or about 20% now attend Dexter Schools in grades K-5.

12 Special Education Students attend Dexter Schools.   8 Spec. Ed. Students attend Exeter/Garland Schools.

14. What are the plans for the upper half of the Fern Road that isn’t going to be rebuilt?   

This is a decision that will have to be made by the local municipal leaders.  The lower portion of the Fern Road will be completely rebuilt and paved by the State of Maine at no cost to the local taxpayer.  The state will not contribute to the costs of upgrading the upper portion of the road.

15. How will the transportation costs change?  Time on the school busses?  What pick-up stops will be changing?

Transportation costs will minimally decrease due to the projection that busses will travel 8 miles per day less than they currently travel.  On average, time on the school bus will not change.  Depending on where the student lives they may see no change, a small increase, or a small decrease in bus riding times.

16. What programs will be added to the overall curriculum that we don’t have now?  What will the costs of those be in terms of personnel? 

At this point, no programs will be added to the curriculum.

* At the MSAD #46 regularly scheduled School Board Meeting of August 23, 2006, the Board of Directors authorized the Curriculum & Instruction Committee to form an Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee to investigate Pre-K schooling.  It is essential to look at this schooling option now as the new facility is being designed, so the necessary classroom space can be included in the new school if the board thinks it is in the best interest of the students to offer a Pre-K (for four year olds) program.

17. Will there be any savings in the Operation of Plant with this internal consolidation?

This is currently being analyzed by an engineer. 

18. What is the School Board’s stance on Pre-K?

The school board has authorized the formation of a Pre-K Ad-Hoc Committee made up of a variety of people to begin exploring the pros and cons of adding a Pre-K program to the new school.

19. How does the district get reimbursed for the Architect and Engineering Fees if the project is approved?  How much has been spent to date on the latest attempt to build a new school?

The district will be reimbursed through the school construction project.  Approximately $362,000. has been spent on the latest attempt to build a new school.

20. What facilities and fields are being planned for this new school?

The facility will include a school of approximately 125,000 sq. feet and 1 multi-purpose field as well as baseball and softball fields.

21. Will current Fern Road residents be required to connect to the sewer and water?

No

22. If the state is paying for some of the land, who will own the land?  Will it be turned over to the Town of Dexter?

The school district will own the land where the new school is built.  The land purchased to reconstruct the Fern Road entrance will be turned over to the Town of Dexter.