Old Orchard Beach school ranks third on proposed state construction list

Loranger Memorial School in Old Orchard Beach has ranked number three on the Maine Department of Education’s Major Capital School Construction Program.

The Major School Construction Program provides state funding to approved school systems for reconstruction or major reconstruction projects. The last two funding cycles were in 2018 and 2011.

Applications are reviewed by a facilities team established by the Maine Department of Education, said Teboe. The team completes a site visit to all schools that apply, she said. Schools are ranked based on a “needs-based” rating system that is detailed in Maine State Board of Education Chapter 61, Section 3, said Teboe.

The team reviewed 95 applications, and Loranger Memorial School ranked third in priority.

Loranger School serves Old Orchard Beach students in grades 3-8. It was built in 1920, according to town property records. The building has outdated plumbing and HVAC systems, said RSU 23 Superintendent of Schools John Suttie. The classrooms get really hot when it is warm outside and the building is difficult to keep warm in the winter, he said.

Part of the school has no windows or egress and is closed off to students, said Suttie.

The final priority list for funding is anticipated to be released in October or November, said Maine Department of Education Communications Director Chloe Teboe. Once this list is established, the commissioner will recommend projects and then the State Board will designate projects, she said. It is not known at this time how many schools will be on the approved project list, she said.

Should Loranger be on the approved project list, a local share may be required for the project. In other words, the state funding would not cover the whole project, and a portion of the cost may have to be covered by local taxpayers.

If there is a percentage of the cost that will need to be paid through local funding, it will have to be approved at a referendum vote by residents, said Suttie.

The school system has no debt, he said. There is also enough town-owned land in the E. Emerson Cummings Boulevard area that the school doesn’t have to buy new property, saving the school department time and money.

“We’re at an advantageous position,” said Suttie. “We’ve been preparing for this for 10 years, in hopes of getting state funding.”

Should RSU 23 get funding, school officials would like to see built a Pre-K through eight facility that would consolidate Jameson Elementary and Loranger Memorial schools.

If Loranger is approved in the fall, RSU 23 would have to come up with a concept approval within a year after approval, said Teboe.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.