BATH

Voters in towns connected with Regional School Unit 1 have approved a $5.2 million bond to do some necessary repairs at Morse High School, the Bath Regional Career Center, Bath Middle School, and most of the elementary schools in the RSU.

The majority of the work is needed at Morse High School, where there are significant problems with the windows, ventilation, temperature control in the classrooms, electrical problems, and substandard science labs.

All the towns approved the bond measure, with the exception of West Bath.  West Bath defeated the measure by only 12 votes.  A petition drive turned in last month will force West Bath Selectmen to schedule a town meeting at which the town will vote to decide whether or not to pull out of RSU 1. The special meeting will be scheduled on November 13. The special town meeting where residents will decide whether or not to vote in favor of beginning the withdrawal process will likely take place in early 2014.

Separately, West Bath is suing RSU 1 for what it believes is overpayment into the school unit over the first four years of the union. The town is seeking $1.9 million plus interest.

Morse High School is slated to be replaced in the next decade or so.  Doing the necessary work is will not affect Bath’s position in the state’s list of schools to be replaced.  The best estimate is that a new school may begin work on a new school in about 10 years.

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