LIVERMORE FALLS — The RSU 73 board heard complaints from Spruce Mountain High School staff Thursday night about overcrowding, unfinished classrooms and lack of security because the connector between the high school and Spruce Mountain Middle School is not completed.
All Spruce Mountain High School students from Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls are now attending classes in Jay as a $1.8 million project to renovate the Jay high school, middle school and Jay Community Center nears completion. More than 500 high school students now attend the school, which previously served about half that number.
Teachers Robin Miller and Jane Costa outlined a list of complaints that were presented to Chairwoman Denise Rodzen.
“We’ve been flexible,” Miller said. “But the lack of space is a safety and health concern.”
She said space is lacking for educational technicians, two of the science classrooms are undersized with no lab space and teachers must receive training on how to use the new telephone system.
Also on the list were issues concerning sound insulation above the new classrooms in the basement of the Jay Community Center.
Costa said teachers have limited time with students before classes begin in the morning and no time for lunch or breaks if a teacher is also covering duties. She also said that because the classrooms are spread out so much, access to printers and coffee machines is difficult.
Rodzen said no one expected a perfect beginning of the new school year.
“The busing system had some kinks in it, maybe the duties do, too,” she said, later adding, “There is a difference here. People are trying to solve the issues.”
Superintendent Robert Wall assured the board and those at the meeting that difficulties will be worked out.
“There are significant efforts being made to eliminate these problems,” he said.
Staff members were also advised to discuss any concerns with high school Principal T.J. Plourde.
In a related matter, the board voted to bond the funding for the renovation project. Just over $745,000 is financed at no interest through the Qualified School Construction program. Just over $1 million is borrowed through a general obligation bond. Both loans are for 15 years.
Also on Thursday, the board decided to extend the deadline for bids on the sale of two school buses until Sept. 20. One is a 78-passenger, 1992 model and the other is a 72-passenger 1994 model.
The resignation of high school guidance director Terry Mitchell was accepted.
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