March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Guilford school to close its doors

GUILFORD — Come October, the hallways and classrooms at the Guilford Middle School on School Street will become silent.

The laughter and loud talking that has taken place for 69 years in the large rambling building will cease. The banging of locker doors, the scraping of chairs across the floor and the clanging of porcelain dishes in the cafeteria will no longer be heard as the school is vacated.

It is expected that when middle school students return from their Columbus Day holiday in October, they will report to their new school constructed next to Piscataquis Community High School.

In anticipation of the move, Guilford officials have asked for proposals for the use of the old building and property, which will revert back to town ownership once it ceases to be a school. School directors are expected to formally approve the change in ownership at their meeting next week.

Informational packets are available at the town office on the property which consists of more than three acres and a large building. While town officials hope to find an industry willing to relocate or expand at the site, demolition of the old building will also be considered.

Kent Burdin, a member of the committee investigating the uses of the property, said proposals are being accepted until Wednesday, Sept. 28. Once the proposals have been reviewed, a special town meeting will be held in October. At that meeting, residents will be asked whether to demolish the building, to raise funds to keep the facility heated through winter, or to accept one of the proposals. A public hearing will be held before the special town meeting.

Burdin said two people have expressed an interest in tearing down the building and using the land.

“If we want to keep the building and use it, we’re probably going to have to heat it for the winter and we haven’t raised any money …” Burdin said.


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