School for those with disabilities hopes to build new facility in town
School for those with disabilities hopes to build new facility in town
By Zack Anchors
Staff writer
A new school may soon be opening in Scarborough, but unlike the proposed new intermediate school, this one will not be on the local ballot.
The Morrison Development Center, a school that offers a range of programs for individuals with developmental disabilities and a preschool, has presented to the Scarborough Planning Board a sketch plan of a new facility to be located at a seven-acre property on the corner of Highland Avenue and Chamberlain Road – the site of the former Pleasant Hill Golf Course. The organization already has a small center on Route One in Scarborough in addition to their location on Martin’s Point in Portland. They hope to combine both centers into one facility at the new Scarborough location.
“We’re in a very preliminary stage with this project at this point,” said the center’s executive director Jim DeCamillas. “It’s still contingent on a number of things coming together.”
The 50-year-old school, which was previously called the Cerebral Palsy Center, serves a wide range of individuals of varying ages with disabilities. The center has around 70 students and 30 staff members.
“We provide services to these individuals that are not only educational but also developmental therapy and physical therapy,” said DeCamillas.
Besides programs for school-aged children, the center offers several programs for adults with disabilities as well as a preschool service.
One project the center has become known for is their greenhouse program, in which student grow plants in a greenhouse at their Portland site and host periodic plant sales.
“We have lots of plant sales,” said DeCamillas. “We have a big Christmas sale and sell poinsettias.”
DeCamillas said the site for the school was chosen after a long search throughout the region. The center is still seeking funding for the new school, which DeCamillas said would come mostly from the Department of Education.
“We’re building this as a school specially designed for people with these special needs,” said Ben Walter, an architect working with the project. “What we’re trying to do is to build an educational facility that is on the same level as other educational facilities being built in the community.”
Members of the Planning Board were pleased overall with MDC’s sketch plan, particularly the proposed architecture. Some board members expressed concern about potential traffic problems caused by students being dropped off, but DeCamillas said the school would not generate much traffic. He said many of the students would be brought to the school with shared transportation.
Before the project can go forward the school must return to the Planning Board for preliminary and then final approval. Board chair Susan Auglis said she expects the school will not have any difficulty gaining the board’s approval.
“This should be a fairly straightforward and easy task for you,” she said to representatives from the school.
Auglis also advised them to hold a meeting with residents who live in the neighborhood of the proposed school to gain their feedback and support.
“If this does go forward, it’s certainly our intent to meet with the neighborhood and chat about our services,” DeCamillas later said.
By Zack Anchors
Staff writer
A new school may soon be opening in Scarborough, but unlike the proposed new intermediate school, this one will not be on the local ballot.
The Morrison Development Center, a school that offers a range of programs for individuals with developmental disabilities and a preschool, has presented to the Scarborough Planning Board a sketch plan of a new facility to be located at a seven-acre property on the corner of Highland Avenue and Chamberlain Road – the site of the former Pleasant Hill Golf Course. The organization already has a small center on Route One in Scarborough in addition to their location on Martin’s Point in Portland. They hope to combine both centers into one facility at the new Scarborough location.
“We’re in a very preliminary stage with this project at this point,” said the center’s executive director Jim DeCamillas. “It’s still contingent on a number of things coming together.”
The 50-year-old school, which was previously called the Cerebral Palsy Center, serves a wide range of individuals of varying ages with disabilities. The center has around 70 students and 30 staff members.
“We provide services to these individuals that are not only educational but also developmental therapy and physical therapy,” said DeCamillas.
Besides programs for school-aged children, the center offers several programs for adults with disabilities as well as a preschool service.
One project the center has become known for is their greenhouse program, in which student grow plants in a greenhouse at their Portland site and host periodic plant sales.
“We have lots of plant sales,” said DeCamillas. “We have a big Christmas sale and sell poinsettias.”
DeCamillas said the site for the school was chosen after a long search throughout the region. The center is still seeking funding for the new school, which DeCamillas said would come mostly from the Department of Education.
“We’re building this as a school specially designed for people with these special needs,” said Ben Walter, an architect working with the project. “What we’re trying to do is to build an educational facility that is on the same level as other educational facilities being built in the community.”
Members of the Planning Board were pleased overall with MDC’s sketch plan, particularly the proposed architecture. Some board members expressed concern about potential traffic problems caused by students being dropped off, but DeCamillas said the school would not generate much traffic. He said many of the students would be brought to the school with shared transportation.
Before the project can go forward the school must return to the Planning Board for preliminary and then final approval. Board chair Susan Auglis said she expects the school will not have any difficulty gaining the board’s approval.
“This should be a fairly straightforward and easy task for you,” she said to representatives from the school.
Auglis also advised them to hold a meeting with residents who live in the neighborhood of the proposed school to gain their feedback and support.
“If this does go forward, it’s certainly our intent to meet with the neighborhood and chat about our services,” DeCamillas later said.
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