FACILITIES PLANNING

The Trustees and School Committee recognizes that educational programs are substantially influenced by the environment within which they function. The development of a quality educational program and school facilities which help to implement it go hand in hand.

It is the Trustees' and School Committees' goal to provide the appropriate facilities needed for the number of students in the unit and to provide the kind of facilities that will best support and accommodate the educational program. To this end, there should always be a five-year facilities plan on file with the board, which is updated every two years.

In planning facilities, the Trustees and School Committee recognize that capital outlay funds are limited and that they must establish priorities in order to make the best use of the school building dollar.

Architects employed by the Trustees and School Committee are expected to plan for high educational utility and flexibility; access to and use by the disabled; sound economics; low long-range maintenance costs and energy efficiency; low insurance rates; and quality of design.

New buildings and/or renovations to existing buildings shall be in accordance with the organizational patterns established by the Trustees and School Committee and shall be designed to fit current as well as anticipated instructional programs. For each building project, a School Building Committee will be appointed and charged with the responsibility of facilities planning. The authority and responsibilities of this Committee shall be detailed by the Trustees and School Committee at the time of appointment.

Decisions pertaining to the construction of educational facilities will be made after consultation with professional staff, students, parents and citizens. All plans and procedures shall be in compliance with federal and state law, and all regulations of the Maine Department of Education shall be complied with in all stages of facilities planning and construction.

Legal Reference: TITLE 20A MRSA SEC. 15903

Adopted: AUGUST 17, 1994