BRUNSWICK

The Brunswick School Board discussed the details Wednesday of more than $1.5 million in funding from the state to make urgent repairs to Coffin Elementary School and the junior high.

The money made available through the Maine Department of Education revolving renovation fund will not be a cure-all for the aging schools, but will provide interest-free loans with a percentage forgiven, thus taking some of the burden of future repairs off the backs of taxpayers.

Applications for repair funds listed critical health, safety and compliance repairs necessary to keep the schools functioning.

Coffin will be receiving $136,968 for sprinkler systems, $49,868 for roof repairs, $79,580 for fire alarms, $57,528 for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance toilets, $82,780 for ADA doors, ramps and signage, and $110,940 for air quality improvements.

The maximum loan amount is set at $517,664 with $198,835 forgiven, leaving an interest-free repayment of $318,829 over 10 years.

Brunswick Junior High School will receive $229,390 for sprinkler systems, $248,803 for roof repairs, $139,200 for fire alarms, $310,404 for ADA toilets, $42,716 for ADA eyewash stations and $36, 312 for asbestos abatement.

The maximum amount of the junior high loan is set at $1 million with $384,100 forgiven and an interest free repayment of $615,900 over 10 years.

Despite the amount of funding received, Lyndon Keck of PDT Architects was quick to point out this is no beautification project and that only the most serious and immediate problems are being addressed.

“We are not solving all the ADA problems. We are not solving all the electrical problems. We are not solving all the hazardous materials problems,” Keck said.

Keck said he met with Facilities Director Paul Caron and Superintendent Paul Perzanoski to hammer out what they could all agree were the most critical issues that impact the schools in terms of risk management before coming up with the list of projects on the application.

Providing more of a bandage for the aging structures,

Keck said only the worst parts of the roofs will be structurally reinforced and the sinking floor in the junior high will be put on the back burner for now.

“We’re not doing those kinds of things,” Keck said. “This doesn’t fix anything and when we’re done, nothing’s going to look pretty. This is not a beautification problem, this is the most serious repair issues.”

Bids will be packaged rather than going through a single general contractor. All the roof work will be completed by one contractor, sprinklers by another and the like. Work is scheduled to be completed by July 31, 2017.

On the bright side, these repairs are part of the larger, $ 12 million list of repairs necessary for the buildings and will provide a slight relief when the town is faced with tackling the larger projects.

The board unanimously approved accepting the funds and will now go before the town council.

dmcintire@timesrecord.com

Money for what

• COFFIN WILL BE receiving $136,968 for sprinkler systems, $49,868 for roof repairs, $79,580 for fire alarms, $57,528 for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance toilets, $82,780 for ADA doors, ramps and signage, and $110,940 for air quality improvements.

• BRUNSWICK JUNIOR HIGH School will receive $229,390 for sprinkler systems, $248,803 for roof repairs, $139,200 for fire alarms, $310,404 for ADA toilets, $42,716 for ADA eyewash stations and $36, 312 for asbestos abatement.

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