Cape Elizabeth voters should meet in the middle on the school proposal

Two years ago, 62% of Cape Elizabeth voters rejected a $116 million school bond proposal. Now we must decide whether to accept the current “intermediate level” $89.9 million proposal.

I voted no in 2022. This year I will vote yes.

Although all three Cape schools have sprawling and outdated layouts, the middle school is the worst. The narrow staircases of the “Building Thirty” pose a threat to evacuation and safety. The 1930s building is aesthetically pleasing on the outside and an educational nightmare on the inside. Classrooms are tiny, limiting students’ active learning strategies. The middle school has an A+ music program in an F- facility.

The problems continue. The middle school is a mess.

Following the 2022 defeat, the School Construction Advisory Committee (SBAC) was established to advise on next steps.

Ultimately, the five SBAC members voted for a renovations-only approach, “Option B.” The four remaining members preferred “Option E,” which combined a new middle school and renovations at the remaining schools.

The projected cost of Option B was $77 to $83 million, compared to the $114 million cost of Option E. Given the closeness of the vote, the school board heard from SBAC supporters of both options at the public meeting.

After listening to the architect, the owner’s representative and supporters of both options, and after a long public discussion, the board commissioned the architect to present a new construction proposal that took into account the opponents’ objections.

The architect rose to the challenge. The Middle Ground option addresses all of the safety and education concerns and many of the objections of opponents, while lowering the price to $89.9 million.

In addition to providing a new junior high school, the proposal addresses key primary school issues. These include a new, secure entrance to the school with adjacent administrative offices, with a clear view of the entrance; and the “café” becomes an exclusive primary school space so that our youngest children can eat for the first time when it makes sense.

Was there a compromise when it came to choosing the middle option? Yes, but these are reasonable compromises.

Compared to the middle variant in option B, the size of the classrooms remained the same; still used the 1930s building; displaced half of Cape elementary and middle school students one year and the other half the next, at a cost of $3 million and zero lasting benefits; and has led to a fiscal cliff within 10 to 20 years when most of the components of middle and elementary schools will become obsolete.

Opponents of the measure suggest the bond cost is $94 million and the actual cost is more than $100 million. These claims are misleading or lack context.

First, Middle Ground’s cost is $89.9 million. The total cost of the bond proposal is nearly $95 million, as the City Council added nearly $5 million to renovate the Thirty Building, although there is no renovation plan or use plan for the building.

Fortunately, according to a bond consultant, in the absence of a plan, bonds cannot be issued for the added amount, even if voters approve it. In other words, these additional funds may never be spent.

Perhaps the local government can be persuaded to look for a private developer who will renovate this building at private expense to provide housing for teachers, police or elderly people in the Cape? One can hope.

Second, opponents create the impression that hidden, hidden future tax increases are coming from increasing the capital improvement budget to meet the needs of other schools. This claim is misleading. The school district already has a capital and renovation budget. Only with inflation increases will this budget cover needed projects over time. So there is no question of hidden tax increases.

Finally, opponents’ arguments lack a critical context: the cost of the alternative plan. In the $77 million to $83 million range, option B is also expensive; would result in a tax increase of 9.9-11% compared to 11.6% in the Middle Ground area alone, without the council addition.

Cape voters face an important question because $89.9 million is a lot. Even with a plan to spread the effects (with tax increases of 0%, 1.9%, 5.8% and 3.9% over four years), the cost is high.

But it’s time to stop kicking the can. The Middle Ground option deserves approval, including from the 62% of us who, like me, voted “no” last time.