Vassalboro school board approves funds for school repairs

Vassalboro Community School (contributed photo)

by Mary Grow

At their Aug. 20 meeting, Vassalboro School Board members unanimously approved borrowing almost $1.7 million to pay for repairs and upgrades to Vassalboro Community School (VCS), the town’s 33-year-old school building.

They made their decision in the school library. Sitting near the door, as a reminder of the need for the planned work, was the large, slightly dented air handler that fell from the gym ceiling one day this summer, fortunately not hitting any of the children in the gym.

Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer explained the financial arrangement, involving Municipal Leasing Consultants and reviewed by the school’s attorney. The first repayment will not be due until next year, he said. Meanwhile, energy efficiency work like LED lighting, new thermostats and new air handlers has been prioritized, and should save a substantial amount of money.

The work has been planned with help from Portland-based Energy Management Consultants (EMC). Pfeiffer intends to invite EMC President Thomas Seekins to the board’s Sept. 9 meeting.

G&E Roofing, of Augusta, is currently replacing part of the VCS roof, Pfeiffer said.

The superintendent reported the past fiscal year’s budget closed June 30 in balance, with the expenditure of about $140,000 of the $185,000 allocated from the school’s unassigned balance (formerly called surplus).

The school lunch program ended in the black for the second year in a row, Pfeiffer said. The 2024-25 balance was not as high as the 2023-24 balance, however, because “food costs are through the roof.” The superintendent added that the state education department had audited the lunch program and found no problems.

In other business Aug. 20, Pfeiffer thanked the Vassalboro public works crew for their help with new signs on public roads and with expanded on-site parking, intended to provide more space for parents picking up students daily as classes end. The town donated gravel, as well as labor, for the work, he said.

The public works crew will also put up new “Welcome to Vassalboro” signs at town lines – signs designed by VCS students, Pfeiffer said.

Board members organized for the new year, re-electing Jolene Gamage chairman and reappointing committees. Legislative committee chairman Jessica Clark distributed a list of 21 new school laws and seven resolves passed by the most recent legislative session. One law she noted continues state education funding at the current 55 percent for the next two years.

Board members asked to have all new staff members invited to the Sept. 9 board meeting.

The school board meeting was preceded by a tour of VCS. Administrators and board members admired the immaculate polished floors and the immaculate off-white corridor walls (some repainted, some cleaned, Principal Ira Michaud said), colorful with posters and bulletin boards ready to welcome students. They praised the school’s custodians for their work over the summer.

They greeted a few teachers still preparing classrooms, and admired the rooms, most ready for students. Michaud mentioned one teacher who was about to finish repainting the restrooms near her classroom, and another who had painted one wall of her classroom. Furniture in the pre-kindergarten classroom includes a miniature couch and armchair.

In the lobby, the office wall is decorated with photographs of Vassalboro’s historic schools – Michaud’s idea, carried out with photos from the Vassalboro Historical Society. Against the opposite wall is a new book-selling machine, provided by the Vassalboro Parent-Teacher Organization, stocked with picture books.

The Sept. 9 school board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at VCS.