January 2023

• The ad-hoc School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC) is established.

 May 2023

• SBAC recommends CBRE Heery (now Turner & Townsend Heery) as the Owner’s Representative for the project.

• Unanimous Town Council and School Board votes approve the hiring of Turner & Townsend Heery as Owner's Representative.

 October 2023

• SBAC recommends Harriman Architects as the Architect & Engineering Firm.

• Unanimous votes by the School Board and Town Council approve the recommendation.

 November 2023

• November 16 Public Forum: Introduction to Harriman Architects

• November 30 Public Forum: The State of Our Schools

February 2024

• February 1 Public Forum: Harriman presents 7 Design Options

• February 8: SBAC meets with New England School Development Council (NESDEC) regarding enrollment projections. (also see: NESDEC follow-up memo)

• February 13: School Board discussion of 7 options to provide feedback to SBAC. Board expresses a preference to “reset the clock” on one building to avoid being in the position of having to replace all three school buildings at the same time in the future.

• February 15: SBAC Meeting narrows to three preferred options.  Public feedback submitted via SBAC website indicated a preference for at least one new building.

• February 23: SBAC meeting with Maine Department of Education regarding school construction financing, space allocation guidelines, and state funding application process.

April 2024

• April 10 Public Forum: Harriman presents 3 Preferred Options (also see: 3 Options Investment Lifespan)

 May 2024

• May 2: SBAC meeting facilitated by Craig Freshley, Good Group Decisions.  With the guidance of Mr. Freshley, the SBAC ranked criteria for selection of a final option and heard the results of the April 2024 community survey. 

• May 2-9: The SBAC receives nearly 200 emails in support of Concept E, which included a new Middle School. The committee received 2 emails in support of Concept B.  The results of the committee’s May 2 design ranking exercise also ranked Concept E as the top option.

• May 9: SBAC votes on a building plan recommendation; the vote results in a 5-4 split between Concept B and Concept E.

• May 13: Town Council recevies an update on the SBAC vote.

• May 14: The School Board receives an update on the SBAC vote and a presentation from Harriman Architects on Concept B.

• May 21: Members of the SBAC present Option B and Option E at a School Board Workshop.  Following a question and answer period with Harriman Architects, the School Board asks Harriman to develop a compromise solution that includes a new Middle School in a price range the SBAC indicated community would support.

 June 2024

• June 10: The Town Council votes to sunset the SBAC effective June 30, 2024. (also see: School Building Process Adopted by Town Council)

• June 11: Harriman presents the Middle Ground option to the School Board.

• June 17: Harriman presents Middle Ground option at a joint School Board and Town Council workshop and responds to questions from School Board Members and Town Councilors.

• June 24 Public Forum: Harriman presents School Building Design Solution. Owner's Rep Turner & Townsend Heery provides School CIP Information.

• June 24: Final School Building Advisory Committee meeting. Members of the SBAC share their thoughts and questions regarding the Middle Ground Project.

• June 30: The SBAC is sunsetted.

 July 2024

• July 1: The School Board votes unanimously to recommend up to $89.5M for school construction and renovations.

• July 8: The Town Council votes unanimously to send the "Middle Ground" project to a public hearing.

• July 29 Town Council Public Hearing: Over 40 community members spoke in favor of the Middle Ground project, and one community member submitted a petition in favor of the project signed by 465 residents.

 August 2024

• August 2024: The Town Council votes unanimously to place the $89.9M "Middle Ground" school project plus an additional $4.8M for municipal use on the November ballot. (also see: School Bond Project Order)