RECOMMENDATIONS

February 2006

Proceed with planning and submit a capital improvement plan with a request for a November referendum to the City Council in June 2006 for major renovations (including some demolition and new construction) to the South Portland High School.

Construct one middle school for all South Portland students in Grades 6-8, applying for State funding for the middle school project as soon as the State is accepting new applications - August 2007.

(Note: applications will be submitted for both middle schools. If one of them is identified as a priority school for state funding, the state will require the School Board to proceed with a process that will include examining enrollment projections, new construction vs renovations, one school vs two schools, etc.)

While all three of the secondary facilities have significant educational, structural and life-safety deficits, the committee felt that this plan was viable for students and teachers and fiscally responsible to the taxpayers of South Portland.