BATH
Voters in Arrowsic, Bath, Phippsburg and Woolwich will decide Tuesday whether to approve $74,628,411 in bonds to fund the construction of a new high school for RSU 1.
The new high school will also be home to the Bath Regional Career and Technical Center, which will share space and be integrated in classrooms.
While the school district will have to put out bonds for that amount, 89.5 percent of the $75,328,411 needed to build the school will actually be paid by the state.
The four communities that make up RSU 1 will be responsible for the remaining 10.5 percent — $7.9 million — that will go toward several additions to and features of the school that will be funded locally. That includes more seating in the theater and more durable building materials.
Should funds be approved, taxes for a property valued at $100,000 would increase by:
• $17.59 in Arrowsic;
• $31.69 in Bath;
• $13.87 in Phippsburg;
• $30.96 in Woolwich.
The district has also committed to raising $700,000 to lower the burden on local taxpayers, and has hired a professional to undertake that effort. The board of directors approved a contract with Leslie Manning in July, setting a goal for her to raise between $700,000 and $1,000,000 before the school opens in 2020.
“One of the things that’s important about developing a campaign is gauging the amount of community support that is going to be available to us,” said Manning, noting that the school has an active alumni association and strong community support.
Manning said she would be engaging with the alumni association to raise money, in addition to asking for larger donations from corporations, local businesses and foundations.
“We’re assembling a campaign team, we’re having some discussion and conversation with potential honorary co-chairs and people who are identified in the community as being part of this school,” said Manning. “This team will not only involve community people and alumni, it will also involve the staff and the board.”
Manning also said that transparency would be a priority throughout the fundraising campaign.
The concept design and budget for the new school building were approved locally in a straw poll vote in Bath in September before also being approved by the state.
If all goes according to plan, the new school will be complete and open in the fall of 2020.
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