Cost for planned SAD 68 school rises 13 percent

DOVER-FOXCROFT – The skyrocketing prices of building materials has caused a vexing problem for SAD 68 and its planned new elementary school.

What was originally a $10.9 million new school has now reached an estimated cost of $12.4 million because of the demand of materials in the storm- and flood-damaged states.

School officials plan to seek more state funds for the project since the increase in the cost of building materials was unanticipated and out of the district’s control.

SAD 68 Superintendent John Dirnbauer is not too optimistic, however, that the extra funds will be provided for the new SeDoMoCha Elementary School. The state has earmarked $10.9 million for the building project.

In the event the extra funds are not available, Dirnbauer said he would be working with school architect Don Lewis of Lewis & Malm Architecture of Bucksport to find ways to reduce the project’s costs.

“A project like this is very complicated and there’s all kinds of speed bumps in the road, but this is a little more than a speed bump,” Dirnbauer said Friday. “A 13 percent over projection on the cost of the project is certainly more than a speed bump.

“But we’ll be able to work it through and you know, we’ll wind up with a wonderful new school a couple of years from now,” he predicted.

The proposed construction project includes a two-story, 59,000-square-foot addition that will share a wall with SeDoMoCha Middle School and the renovation of about 10,000 square feet of the middle school.

The new elementary school, which will house pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade pupils and the superintendent’s office, has received the approval of the State Board of Education.

Dirnbauer said the project remains on schedule.

“This will not delay construction, we’re still planning on breaking ground in April,” he said.

He said he plans to meet with the state school construction subcommittee in late November to discuss the project and its costs.

He also plans to meet with the State Board of Education in December to get final approval for the project.