By Renee Worthing 

Staff Writer

  “We have a building that is old, worn out and not efficient,” Scarborough School Superintendent David Doyle said, speaking of the Wentworth Intermediate School.

  He said the school has needed to be replaced for several years and in 2006, replacement of the school was presented to voters on a referendum ballot, but was defeated.

  On Oct. 2 the Scarborough Board of Education approved the creation of an Intermediate School Building Committee to oversee the design and promotion of a potential new school to replace the current Wentworth Intermediate School.

  Doyle said the board is seeking to create a committee of 15 members, two of which will be members of the board of education, two members of the town council, the superintendent or his representative, the school facilities manager, the intermediate school principal, two intermediate school teachers, the town manager or his representative and five members of the community.

  Doyle said six applications have been turned in so far, but there is still time with a Nov. 10 deadline.  The board is expected to review the applications and make appointments Nov. 20.

  He said the newly formed committee will “guide” an architectural firm in making design decisions based on the educational philosophies of the school, guidelines by Maine Department of Education, school board policies, program needs and cost effectiveness. 

  Doyle said the current building, originally built in the mid-1950s, serves about 735 students in the third, fourth and fifth grades. However, he said the classrooms are too small, the heating and ventilation system is insufficient and the windows are single pane.

  “The parts to upgrade the heating and ventilation system can’t be found because they aren’t made anymore,” Doyle said. “Repairs are jerry-rigged.” 

  In addition, the electrical system needs to be upgraded and although it is safe, it doesn’t meet with current code guidelines.

 Doyle said the plan calls for construction of a new school next to the existing building. When complete, the current building would be razed.

  He said a new facility would feature larger classrooms and running water. Currently, he said many of the classrooms  do not have running water, which makes it difficult for science projects and other activities that require the use of water.

  “Given the conditions, the teachers do an amazing job,” Doyle said. 

  He said the current school lacks sufficient space for the entire student body to assemble together and the bleachers in the gym were removed due to safety concerns. He hopes a new school will feature a gymnasium or other room that would allow all the students to assemble. 

  He said a cost has not yet been established, but said it will cost “roughly” between $35 million and $45 million and will be funded by bonds. 

  “We won’t get any help from the state,” he said, adding the school has applied for state funds in the past but “didn’t fare well.”