Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Summary of Project
New Construction /
State of Maine Renovation Application
Department of Education Major Capital Improvement Program
School Facilities Services Rating Cycle 2003-2004
Part V: Facility Maintenance and Capital Improvement Plan (provide attachment) ................................ 21
An application for the Major Capital Improvement Program may only be submitted for a single school.
If the proposed construction or major renovation project affects other school(s), the affects need to be
addressed in Section II of this application. The School Facilities Services Team will take this into
consideration and will visit the other affected schools.
Brunswick Junior High School 1959 original, 1966, 1976 additions, 1983 fire damage
reconstruction
Additional classroom space to address overcrowding.
Renovations and additions to address educational program space requirements, code
and system upgrades, and site issues.
The Junior High School will continue to serve grades 6 -8.
2. If you know at this time, summarize the proposed project; and its relationship to the districts Long
Range Facilities Plan.
Longfellow Overview
Music/Band room
O.T./P.T. room
Guidance office
Conference room
Work room
2 Special Education rooms (behavior & learning disability self-contained)
Nurse station
Storage
P.E. office & storage
Gifted/ Talented
Art room below grade
Gym & Cafeteria (separated)
Principals office expanded
Kitchen expanded
Additional parking
Ventilated wiring closet for technology
English as a Second Language program
Preschool Program
Tech Room for Technology Integrator and mobile carts
Full day kindergarten
Teachers room expansion
With the proposed reduction in student population at each existing elementary school made
possible by the construction of a new school, the list of rooms above would decrease.
District Overview
The Brunswick School Board seeks to have a facilities project that will meet the long range
space needs of the school district for up to fifty years. The Brunswick School Department
Major Capital Improvement Application 4 5/28/04
Longfellow Elementary
and school board have spent many hours reviewing current and future educational space
needs and have concluded that the school district needs to construct a new elementary
school of at least 500 pupils accompanying three remaining 350 student elementary schools.
It is anticipated that the Hawthorne elementary school would be closed due to ADA issues,
the small number of students the school serves and its high yearly operational costs.
Each renovation and addition plan outlined in this document will enhance the Coffin School,
Jordan Acres School, Longfellow School, and the Brunswick Junior High School. A K-5
elementary school organizational structure is well established in Brunswick and reflects the
unique situation of a military community. Military students are required to change schools
every two to three years; so Brunswick tries to eliminate as much transition for them as
possible.
Our proposed building project envisions at minimum a K-5 500 student elementary school
that provides the necessary space to allow for many programs not currently possible. The
new school would allow for:
Students from our military families would be able to be assigned to either the Coffin School
or the new elementary school if it is located on Spring Street, thereby reducing the number of
military families at just one school. The annual transition of over 50% of their students adds
stress to this naval community. Currently, due to our many space needs problems, large
numbers of students begin school at the Early Childhood Center at Jordan Acres School and
then are required to transfer to either the Hawthorne School or the Coffin School after
kindergarten. For example, Grade 1 students transfer to the Hawthorne School after
attending the kindergarten program at Jordan Acres School. After attending both grades K
and 1 at the Jordan Acres School, many students are required to transfer to the Coffin
School for grades 2-5. This causes great anxiety, anger, and concern by parents,
particularly in our military families. The reorganization of the elementary schools should be
designed to bring about greater equity and cause these concerns to dissipate throughout the
school district and the community.
Our primary purpose is to educate students with an emphasis on the mastery of basic skills
and expansion of knowledge. The worth and dignity of the individual students are
recognized in order to provide for maximum intellectual, physical, social and emotional
development. In order to reach their potentials, students will be encouraged to explore
ideas, to make choices, to appreciate aesthetics of life and to understand their
responsibilities as individuals in a democratic society.
The vision of the Brunswick School Board is a community of life -long learners able to
contribute positively to society. We envision students striving towards significant
accomplishments and the attainment of their full potential. Towards this end, students shall,
to the best of their ability, acquire and apply the skills necessary to effectively communicate,
to utilize and adapt technology, to think critically and creatively, and to become responsible
individuals.
The Brunswick School Board has been at work for nearly five years to assess our
elementary space needs and to develop a process and a plan to ensure that any facility
changes enhance our educational mission. The process began in 1999 with the creation of
an Elementary Space Needs Task Force, led by two Board members and including
administrators, teachers and parents. Aware that the State was moving to end its financial
support for portable classrooms, our initial emphasis was on replacing these spaces (found
at two of our elementary schools and the junior high school) with permanent classroom
space. In addition, we conducted a school-by-school assessment of the adequacy of our
existing elementary schools to support current programming and to provide appropriate
space for future program initiatives.
After the Task Force issued its report in 2000, the full Board began a series of workshops
examining our educational goals as they relate to the development of additional elementary
space and outlining the objectives we intend to pursue as we make these proposed
changes. The Board discussed such issues as the most appropriate size and grade
configuration for Brunswick schools, and how to ensure that every Brunswick student has an
equal opportunity to receive a quality education. We examined the particular challenges
posed by and for our large Navy population, and we also talked at length about the difficulty
of maintaining the Hawthorne School in its current form. With the help of Harriman
Associates, we worked through several scenarios through which we might attempt to meet
current and future space needs simply through renovations at each of the existing
elementary schools. Preliminary cost estimates for any of these proposed plans suggested
that it might make far more sense, in terms of both cost and the quality of our education
program, to focus our efforts on building a new school, with more modest renovations at the
remaining schools. The Board has made no formal decision on any of these matters, other
2. How are the buildings organized for program delivery? (Ex. by grade, house, department)
Longfellow School is a traditional closed classroom building in grade level teams, K-5, with
three teachers at each grade. We house a resource room, speech, O.T/P.T., Guidance,
nurse, teachers room, work room, physical education storage, library and office. Our gym is
utilized on shared bases for physical education and performing arts. It is also a storage
space. Our storage is very limited and many special education programs share space.
3. Describe the extent to which the Learning Results have been integrated into the educational program in
the facilities and any limitations the current facilities presents in their further implementation.
The Brunswick School Department is committed to ensuring that all students achieve,
meeting the content standards of the Maine Learning Results. Our teachers do the best they
can to provide a quality learning experience within our classrooms although they are limited
in implementing various instructional practices and programs due to space constraints.
Some examples are:
1. Lack of space for all day kindergarten classes (if desired).
2. Lack of classroom space for elementary foreign language instruction.
3. Lack of classroom space for Career Education or Health classes.
4. Lack of space for Gifted and Talented education classes.
5. Limitations on instructional practices of individual teachers due to the inability to use
space flexibly for different instructional purposes at different times, matched to curricular
goals. For e xample on some days or points in the instructional day, teachers may want
desks in a row for recitation and presentation lessons. They may next want the desks
arranged in a cluster of six to do committee work or cooperative team work. Still later
on, the teacher may want to use the space for a large circle around the perimeter of the
room for large classroom discussion and eye contact. Classroom space is utilized in a
rational manner by the skillful teacher. The space limitations faced by many of
Brunswicks elementary teachers limit, inhibit, or discourage individual teacher creativity
in providing a wide variety of uses of classroom space for instructional or learning
purposes. These inherent space needs limitations have been so ingrained over the years
with our veteran teachers that they are resigned to the fact that when they design their
lessons they design them based on the enduring reality of limited space. This limitation
on classroom instructional strategies and programmatic needs pose real limits on the
school departments long-term ability to comply with the requirements of the Maine
Learning Results. The varied architectural designs and sizes of each of our schools
make it unlikely that every student will experience the same educational experience
across the district. Although the curriculum and assessments may be the same at each
grade level, the space available or not available depending on the specific school limits
the learning experience. This produces an inherent barrier to providing the same
educational experience for all Brunswick students in meeting the standards of the Maine
Learning Results.
Specific issues for Longfellow are: The Longfellow curriculum has been totally revised
over the past five years and all revisions are based on the Maine Learning results. The
Major Capital Improvement Application 7 5/28/04
Longfellow Elementary
current facility will not accommodate Gifted/Talented, Foreign Language, Full day
kindergarten, preschool and expansion of our special education program.
Physical education needs to shut down for music and lunch
Little space for tutoring often takes place in the hallways
There is no space for foreign language, gifted/talented, full day kindergarten and
preschool
Storage space is at a critical shortage
4. Have building limitations resulted in unusual or difficult scheduling, or in facilities use problems, such
as double sessions, extended day, or classes in unsuitable areas?
General Notes
The square foot per student ratio is 97 sq. ft. per student.
Several of our programs are conducted in closets, hallways and doubled use spaces. We are
constantly juggling space to accommodate testing, contracted services and special events.
Double use space is our foremost problem. Special education programs have suffered the
most. Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy a nd the nurse vie for the same space and
often their time overlaps. Our educational examiner often tests in a closet in the fifth grade
wing.
The kitchen and its storage space are inadequate. The size of the kitchen does not allow for
people to move around in a safe manner because there is a need for hot transports to be
plugged in the kitchen area after food is cooked for safe and sanitary holding until lunch is
served. Because of lack of space all food must be prepped and sent over from another
school in the district. Storage in the kitchen area is a wood cabinet that does not allow for all
needed supplies to be stored in it. The project would allow us to have room for movement
and adequate storage space for dry goods and supplies.
Longfellow School provides services for students needing less than 60% of their instruction
outside of the general curriculum. Service programs include a resource class, a Speech
Therapist a nd part time Behavioral Teacher. All service providers share space which makes
for very crowded areas. Longfellow lacks the space to provide services, including related
services to the many students that attend those programs. The Physical Therapist and
Occupational Therapist are housed in a storage closet. Equipment necessary to support
those services is crammed into shelves and corners. While there is a ramp and chair lift at
the school it is inefficient and cumbersome. It may satisfy the access requirement but in
case of emergency would be impossible for a student to leave the building from the second
floor in a timely and safe manner.
Technology Issues
The long range goals for Longfellow School include the purchase and use of wireless laptops
on mobile charging / security carts to expand the use of computers beyond the traditional
fixed lab environment. This will allow for flexibility in scheduling and greater student access
to computer technology. Currently, Longfellow has a limited number of individual laptops that
Major Capital Improvement Application 8 5/28/04
Longfellow Elementary
are stored in a library closet. We would like to purchase several mobile laptop carts to
supplement the fixed lab. Space is not currently available for the storage of these carts for
security and charging overnight. This space should also function as a temporary holding
facility for desktops, printers and laptops that are awaiting repair. It should also serve as a
space for the Technology Integrator to store materials used in the classroom. Currently, she
must carry all materials with her since no space exists that she can call her own. There is
also a need to move the wiring closet which is currently located on the stage and is
accessible to anyone using the stage. This would require re-wiring of the network cables in
the building.
5. What specific program changes, or new programs, will this project allow you to implement? How do
these specific program changes related to the Learning Results?
The building renovations would create space to adequately deliver all programs now
required by the Maine Learning Results and NCLB.
Due to the nature of the school and the lack of space, students who require more intensive
special education service must transfer to another building. This suits the needs of the
services but is unfair to students and the families who have put their trust in the
neighborhood school. A necessary component of the application should be providing for a
range of services for all students within the building. That could impact the model used by
the other 3 elementary school. Each would provide services and space for
consult/monitoring, resource (less than 60%) and self-contained (more than 60%). Students
and families would stay within the schools and all grades would have opportunities to provide
opportunities to make progress on the content standards and performance indicators of the
Learning Results
We would also be able to offer programs for Gifted and Talented, Pre-School, Full day
kindergarten, Foreign Language, and Career Education.
6. Describe any consideration given to consolidation within your school administrative unit.
Brunswick School Department has for the past five years been in an ongoing process of
reviewing and evaluating space needs. (See question 1). A wide range of options were
considered and it was determined that consolidation within the school district is not
practicable and that maintaining elementary schools in the 350 to 500 student range best
meets the needs of Brunswick.
7. Describe any studies or consideration of consolidation with other school administrative units.
The superintendents and directors of special education in Cumberland County have already
initiated a number of conversations concerning regionalized services. Those conversations
have led to nascent regionalized activities in transportation and professional development.
Given the expanding expenses associated with special education and the new demands
placed on school districts by No Child Left Behind, the nature and intensity of these
conversations has resulted in a proposal to regionalize specific functions of both regular and
special education. Some functions of special education and general education that could be
supported and enhanced through regionalized activities include programs and services,
professional development and assessment. We have also actively sought and currently
Major Capital Improvement Application 9 5/28/04
Longfellow Elementary
participate in collaboration with other school districts and municipalities. For example, we
are a member of Maine Vocational Region TEN and contribute approximately 43.5% of their
budget. We are a member of Merrymeeting Adult Education operated by MSAD 75. We
participate in Merrymeeting Child Development Services. We accept tuition students from
surrounding towns. We share transportation services with other towns where possible for
out of district placement special education students. We join with the Town of Brunswick
and MSAD 75 to collectively purchase heating fuel. We share some procurement functions
with the Town of Brunswick. We are a member of the Cumberland County Superintendents
and Special Education Directors collaborative team to address Essential Programs and
Services. We are a member of the I-95 Consortium for Administrator Certification (with
MSAD 51, MSAD 75, Falmouth, and Freeport). We are a member (with Bath and MSAD 75)
of the Midcoast Regional Gifted and Talented Program.
Table 1
Facility Appropriateness for Program Needs
Facility Information
Part III: Facility Information
Is this a historic building or site? Yes, the site was deeded to Town of Brunswick by former Governor and Civil
War hero Joshua Chamberlain for use as a school. For this reason, Longfellow School has been deemed
eligible for designation as a Local Landmark under the Towns Zoning Ordinance.
A: Site Characteristics
T Urban o Rural
3. List all available on-site athletic fields, practice areas, and playgrounds.
4. List all available off-site athletic fields, practice areas, and playgrounds.
Farley Athletic Complex Field (operated by Bowdoin College) used for annual Field Day activities
5. Describe any difficulties that these off-site facilities create for the program.
6. Describe any significant site issues (accessibility, size, drainage, safety/traffic, sewer & water, EPA
considerations, etc) that present a current or long range Health & Safety issue to the building
occupants.
The site is very constricted and bounded by town roads on two sides and Bowdoin College on the other two
sides.
Traffic Flow: Tight constriction at drop off/pickup areas on both sides of school building. Both abutting streets
are narrow and heavily congested by both traffic and on-street parking at beginning and end of school day.
Average backup is 8-10 vehicles in either direction on both abutting streets.
Parking: Inadequate availability of parking for staff and parents. Staff must always double up in parking spots
at rear of building. Access to rear of building by emergency vehicles is extremely difficult due to close-quarters
parking situation. Availability of open on-street parking slots very limited in front of building and virtually
nonexistent behind building. This is made even more difficult by the adjacency of the College.
Drainage: Inadequate drainage at far end of playground; significant rainfall/snowmelt results in large areas of
standing water and mud in warm weather, large areas of ice in freezing weather.
Fire Drills/Evacuation: Insufficient area available for students and staff to safely muster in the event of
building evacuation. Evacuation areas are too close to adjacent streets and access routes for emergency
vehicles.
7. How many acres at this site are unused but developable for educational purposes?
None.
3. Sprinkler System:
COMMENTS:
Full sprinkler coverage with the exception of Computer Lab and custodial/kitchen office areas at rear of school
building. Dry system.
Explain:
Fire Doors: Inadequate fire separation in stairwells located in original building and 1943 addition. Doors to
stage are not fire rated.
Emergency Egress/Storage Locations: Classroom space so constrained that small class groups must work
at tables in hallways. Coat/boot racks for kindergarten (Rm. 5) located in adjacent egress hallway due to lack
of space in classroom. Library and A/V storage located in hallway due to lack of available space in library. Art
Department must use storage racks in exit vestibule due to lack of available space in Art Room.
Open Stairwells: Area underneath a rear stairwell required for small group class area due to lack of available
classroom space. Wooden railings in original building and 1943 addition stairwells are not in compliance with
existing code.
Security: Admin Office not situated at primary ingress location to building. While there are security cameras at
ingress and egress points in the building, real-time visual identification of all persons entering/leaving the
building by office personnel cannot be achieved.
North side of first floor adjacent to gym, custodial office, electrical room, and egress passageway from gym to
one of three north side exits. Directly underneath Classroom #22.
Two 15 psi steam boilers. One cast-iron Weil-McLain installed in 1994 (primary), and one cast-iron HB Smith
installed in 1924 (backup).
1. In the table below please list all temporary classroom spaces that support this facilitys educational
program. Do not include administrative or transportation leases.
Table 2
Temporary Classroom Space Analysis
# of Total Permanent
Leasing # of
Class- Square or Use as it Relates to Program
Status Units
Rooms Footage Temporary
Leased Space 0 0 0 N/A None
District Owned
0 0 0 N/A None
Other (specify)
0 0 0 N/A None
Totals
0 0 0 N/A
2. Create and attach a chart listing the educational function(s) that take place in each of the temporary
classrooms.
3. Will this facility need additional program space through the Leased Space Program in the near future?
If so, please explain the rationale and describe any plans and timelines that have been developed to
meet the need. How many additional spaces will be needed in each of the next five years?
Use of the Leased Space Program is impractical due to the lack of available space on site.
1. Has this facility received Revolving Renovation Fund monies in the past? Please explain:
No.
2. Describe in detail all health & safety, code compliance, or other significant facility deficiencies that
impacts the educational program including any hazardous material issues.
ADA: Numerous interior/classroom doors in original building and 1943 addition do not have ADA-compliant
hardware (scheduled for correction Summer 2004 pending budget approval). Only ADA-compliant access to
Art Room is via outside egress door.
AHERA: Presumed asbestos floor tile in one classroom (under carpet) and in one bathroom (under vinyl
composition tile). Asbestos pipe insulation in cellar and in one second-floor storage closet. All are monitored/
maintained under the schools AHERA Operation & Maintenance Plan.
3. Please describe any deficiencies related to mechanical or other building systems such as heating,
ventilation, plumbing, and electrical.
Ventilation: Unit ventilators in original building and 1943 addition are past useful life and unreliable. No
mechanical ventilation system installed for gymnasium or stage.
Electrical: Overcurrent protection for fire alarm panel provided by antiquated fuse panel (upgrade to circuit
breaker protection scheduled for Summer 2004 pending budget approval).
Heating: Internals for 1924 backup boiler are difficult to maintain/replace and are reaching the end of useful
life.
Lighting: Hallway lighting in 1987 addition in insufficient and inefficient (upgrade scheduled for Summer 2004
pending budget approval).
4. Are there air quality issues in the school? If yes, please describe in detail.
While air quality parameters in the school building remain within acceptable parameters, ventilation in all but
the 1987 and 1998 additions is inadequate. The unit ventilators in the older sections of the building do not
provide sufficient air exchange. The only direct source of fresh air for the gymnasium/cafeteria and stage areas
is an openable section of the large window on the north wall, with large ceiling fans to circulate the air
throughout the space.
Table 3
Existing Building Space Analysis
NOTE: Complete one Table for each school in the administrative unit.
Total
Grade Date of Total
Building Square Uses as they Relate to Program
Level Construction Enrollment
Footage
Original
1924 8,112 396 Grades 2 & 3 educational programs, art, food services
Building
Kindergarten, grades 2 & 4 educational programs,
396 library, school administration, special education,
Additions 1943 21,894
guidance, music, phys ed, health services, food
services
Portables None
Other None
Please attach a copy of the districts current enrollment data and projections. This Comprehensive
Enrollment Analysis should include:
School enrollment projections that estimate future enrollments in each grade on a year-by-year basis for
the next ten years. The enrollment projections should be done on a district-wide basis and a school-by-
school basis if there is more than one school serving a grade grouping that is affected by the building
project. For example, a district with three K-5 elementary schools that is proposing a project at an
elementary school should do district -wide K-5 projections and projections for each of the three elementary
schools. The same district would not need to do school by school elementary projections if it is proposing
a project at the high school
.
The enrollment projections should address the following areas:
1. The anticipated size of the future K and first grade classes based upon birth levels and the pattern of
migration of preschool aged children should be articulated. In communities with significant levels of
residential development, this should include a review of residential and business development trends
and the relationship of development to changes in the entering class size.
The Brunswick School Board commissioned Planning Decisions, Inc. to develop enrollment
projections for this application. Their report is attached. Also, enrollment projections
obtained from the State Planning Office are attached.
2. The grade-to-grade progression of a class as it moves through the system, including changes in the
size of the class resulting from in or out migration should be stated. In communities with significant
residential development, this should include a review of the relationship of the new residential
development to changes in class size.
The Brunswick School Board commissioned Planning Decisions, Inc. to develop enrollment
projections for this application. Their report is attached. Also, enrollment projections
obtained from the State Planning Office are attached.
3. 3. Any changes in administrative policy or external factors that may have influenced historical
enrollments or that may influence future enrollments should be documented. For example, the
addition of a pre-school program or the opening, expansion, or closing of a major local employer
should be considered in the projection.
Although we are not aware of any specific changes being contemplated by any major
employer, it is a matter of public record that the U.S. Naval Air Station at Brunswick, Maine
will be evaluated by the Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure
Commission as part of the next round of nationwide evaluation of military facilities. The
commissions initial report is expected to be released sometime in 2005; and they could
recommend that the mission of the Naval Air Station be expanded, contracted, or remain
the same. Beginning next year, the government-owned housing now occupied by military
families will be leased to a private contractor for a fifty year term. In the worst-case
speculative scenario that the Naval Air Station is closed, it is highly probable that the
housing now occupied by military families with school age children will be rented to civilian
families looking for rental and any type of affordable housing in our area, thereby minimizing
the effect on the school systems student load.
Brunswick schools currently have half-day kindergarten. The Brunswick School Board is
pursuing the objective of all day kindergarten and has included the capacity for it in this
application. Due to space constraints, it is not possible to offer all day kindergarten without
leasing additional portable units.
5. What is the status of pre-school programs in your system?
Brunswick schools currently offer very limited preschool programs to the extent that federal
funds permit. There are no current plans to expand this program into the local budget due to
the cost of staff and additional portable units.
6. What number of tuition students are under a tuition contract with your school administrative unit?
Brunswick School Department does not have any written contracts for tuition students at this
time. However, we have historically accepted secondary tuition students from Durham, as
well as an occasional student from Arrowsic, Georgetown, Phippsburg, West Bath, Westport
and Woolwich. During 03-04 and 02-03 we have had only one elementary tuition student
and for each of the two years preceding, we had five students.
7. What is the length of term of the tuition contract?
The Brunswick School Department is currently accepting most of Durhams high school
students. Although no formal signed tuition contract exists, Brunswick has always accepted
any Durham student wishing to attend Brunswick High School.
Presently the Superintendent and School Board leadership are reviewing the possibility of
signing some sort of agreement concerning 9 -12 students.
Due to the current crowded K-8 situation, rarely are any students accepted as tuition
students in those grades.
Table 4
Current Enrollment (Resident Students)
Complete the following two charts for each school in your district.
The Department of Education has made available Capital Management Asset software and MeSFMP (Maine
School Facilities Maintenance Plan) to assist districts with the development of Maintenanc e Plans, Capital Renewal
Plans (MRSA Title 20-A, Section 15918 and Section 4001).
Appendices No. 1 and 2 below summarize the Brunswick School Departments capital improvement procedures:
This plan delineates regular actions and responsibilities for preventive and periodic maintenance/inspections of key
systems and equipment in Brunswick School Department facilities.
I. Roof Systems: All roofs are formally inspected by our roofing service provider every October. This inspection
evaluates both small-scale remedial repair requirements and condition trend-based requirements for Roof Life
Extension (RLE). This program entails full planned restoration of the roof system, including resealing of all
splices, restoration of all flashing details, and renovation of all roof drains. All RLE projects and non-immediate
remediate repairs are incorporated into subsequent facilities with phasing as recommended by our roofing
inspectors. All suspected roof leaks are immediately addressed with our roofing service provider, investigated,
and repaired with no more than a 1-2 day turnaround.
a. Main Buildings: HVAC systems in all buildings are covered by a service and maintenance contract with one
of two providers. Minor routine preventive maintenance actions (local adjustments, indicator monitoring,
filter replacement) are conducted by custodial personnel. The service providers have remote system
monitoring and diagnostic capability via modem connection with each building control system.
Enhancement of this capability to an active on-line mode, with access in each custodial office and in the
Facilities Directors office, is planned for the near future.
b. Portable Classrooms: All portable classrooms, both owned and leased, have individual kerosene monitor
heating units and air exchangers serviced under a service and maintenance agreement with the installing
vendor. The vendor provides annual inspection, cleaning, and routine preventive maintenance service
during the summer vacation period, as well as year-round repair service on an on-call basis.
c. Air Quality: Air quality testing is conducted on an as-required basis by either the HVAC service provider or
a local environmental service vendor. All suspected air quality issues are immediately investigated and
testing conducted once identified.
III. Utilities:
a. General Services: Water and sewer service is provided by the Brunswick-Topsham Water District and
Brunswick Sewer District respectively. Electrical power is provided by Central Maine Power. Local
telephone service is contracted with Verizon. Heating oil and trash pickup are contracted by the Town of
Brunswick. Propane and propane system service is provided by a local vendor on an on-call basis.
b. Water: Annual backflow preventer inspection and seasonal activation/shut-off of irrigation systems are
provided by the Brunswick-Topsham Water District. Emergent internal plumbing issues are immediately
addressed with local licensed plumbing service providers.
a. Fire Alarms: All building fire alarm systems are inspected and serviced annually under a service agreement
with the equipment provider. All school building alarm systems are continuously monitored.
b. Sprinkler Systems: All installed sprinkler systems are inspected annually, with an internal inspection of dry
systems every five years, under a service agreement with an outside vendor.
c. Fire Protection/Emergency Equipment: All fire extinguishers and emergency lighting systems are tested
and serviced annually by a licensed vendor. Monthly inspections of this equipment, as well as eye wash
stations and deluge showers are conducted monthly by custodial personnel.
d. Security: Security systems at Brunswick Junior High School, Brunswick High School, and Superintendents
Office are monitored 24 hours a day, and serviced on an as-required basis, by the equipment installer.
e. Interior Communication: Internal phone switching systems, intercom, and master clock systems are
covered under vendor service agreements providing service on an on-call basis.
V. Site:
a. Snow Clearance: Plowing/snowblowing of roadways, parking lots, and sidewalks is generally performed by
custodial/groundskeeping personnel and bus drivers. Plowing of parking lots and roads at Brunswick High
School is contracted annually with a local vendor. Gross snow removal is arranged with a local vendor on
an as-required basis.
b. Pest Management: Monthly inspection and monitoring in accordance with the Brunswick School
Department Integrated Pest Management Policy is performed under an annual contract with a certified
vendor.
c. Grounds Maintenance: Grounds maintenance on all school sites, with the exception of Brunswick High
School, is performed by groundskeeping personnel. Annual weeding, garden maintenance/upkeep, and
turf management at Brunswick High School is accomplished under a service agreement with a local
landscape contractor.
d. Playgrounds: All school playgrounds and playground equipment are visually inspected semi-annually by
groundskeeping personnel for safety and operability.
a. General Inspection: All school buildings are inspected annually by the Town Fire Marshal and by a loss
control representative of the School Departments Workers Compensation insurance carrier for fire and
general safety.
b. ADA Compliance: All vertical/inclined lifts and elevators are serviced and annually inspected by a licensed
inspector, and are licensed by the State Board of Elevator and Tramway Safety. Routine quarterly elevator
lubrication is likewise performed under a service contract.
c. AHERA: Designated Person services, including survey, inspection, staff training, and abatement support,
under AHERA are provided under a services contract with a licensed environmental service provider. The
Facilities Director maintains all AHERA documentation and initiates all required public and contractor
notifications required by AHERA.
d. Boilers: All boilers and pressure vessels are inspected annually by a licensed boiler inspector, and, along
with their control systems, are covered in the HVAC repair and maintenance contracts. The night security
guard, all head custodians, and at least one night custodian at each school are licensed low-pressure boiler
operators.
e. Underground Storage Tanks: All underground fuel storage tanks and monitoring systems are inspected
annually by a licensed tank inspector.
VII. Miscellaneous:
a. Bleachers/Backboards: All motorized retractable bleacher and backboard installations are inspected
annually for safety and proper operation by the installer.
This section outlines the history, performance, status, and current guidance for capital improvement/renewal efforts
for Brunswick School Department facilities.
I. Background.
Since 1969, the Brunswick School Department has maintained and annually updated a Five-Year Capital
Improvement Plan for its buildings, grounds, and vehicles in accordance with the Town Charter. Until 2003,
this plan was presented to the Brunswick School Board for approval and, once approved, was included in the
Town Capital Improvement Plan along with those from all other Town departments for consideration and
approval by the Town Council. In November, 2002, the Town of Brunswick established a Capital Improvement
Plan Committee to gather, evaluate, and consolidate the various capital needs requests for the Town
departments, and to present a unified, integrated Capital Improvement Plan for the Town Council. School
Department capital improvement proposals now undergo parallel approval processes with the School Board
and Capital Improvement Plan Committee prior to inclusion in the proposed Town budget.
The criteria for inclusion of an item into the School Department Plan is: (1) a non-recurring upgrade, renewal, or
replacement of a structure, building component, or vehicle that would increase the life of, or add required
functionality to, that structure, component, or vehicle, with (2) an estimated total cost of $25,000 or greater.
Individual phases of a multi-year project less than $25,000 are included if the total cost of the project is over
that amount; single-year projects estimated at less than $25,000 are not included in the Plan. Individual items
with estimates of $150,000 or greater are considered as separate line items by both the School Board and the
Town Capital Improvement Committee. Items with estimates between $25,000 and $150,000 are considered
individually by the School Board, but are combined into a single summary line item by the Town Capital
Improvement Committee.
Requirements have been most commonly generated from the results of the School Departments 1995
Facilities Study and, to a lesser extent, from the results of periodic and one-time inspections and surveys (i.e.,
ADA compliance survey, energy conservation survey, etc.). Significant past and projected capital improvement
projects for Brunswick school facilities since 1996-97 have included:
NOTE: Amounts only include those projects with estimated cost between $25,000 and
$150,000.
The School Department Capital Improvement Plan for 2004-05 has been approved by the Brunswick School
Board and Town Capital Improvement Plan Committee, and is awaiting approval by the Brunswick Town
Council.
On January 28, 2004, the Brunswick School Department contracted with Northeast Building Consultants for
facility assessment and database startup services to support future long-range facilities planning using the
DOE-provided VFA Capital Asset Management software system. While this change in the facilities planning
process cannot influence the 2004-05 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan currently in the approval pipeline, it
will drive the proposed Plan input from 2005-06 onward.
Based on the initial field survey information provided by Northeast Building Consultants in May 2004, the
composite Facility Condition Index (FCI) for the Brunswick School Department K-8 facilities is 0.12. This value
will most likely increase as the initial survey data is currently being refined and lower-value requirements are
being added; however, the FCI is not expected to exceed 0.14 once these efforts are completed.
The current School Department Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan delineates the projected expenditures for
capital renewal items with a value of $25,000 or greater for the K-8 facilities through 2008-09. Renewal items
of value less than $25,000 beyond 2004-05, and all renewal items beyond 2008-09, have not yet been formally
planned and estimated, nor have funding levels for these items been determined. These out-year funding
requirements have been modeled based on the following parameters:
Major Capital Improvement Application 24 5/28/04
Longfellow Elementary
A. The spending projections for capital renewal items with a value of $25,000 or greater beyond 2008-09 are
based on the average yearly planned expenditure for these items over the period of the current Five-Year
Capital Improvement Plan (2004-05 through 2008-09) adjusted for inflation each year.
B. Historically, approximately 55% of expenditures for Contracted Repairs have been for capital renewal
work items with value less than $25,000. Out-year capital renewal spending projections include 55% of the
proposed 2004-05 budget for contracted repairs adjusted for inflation each year.
C. Historically, approximately 15% of expenditures for Supplies and Materials have been used for capital
renewal work items with value less than $25,000 performed in-house as self-help projects. Out-year
capital renewal spending projections include 15% of the proposed 2004-05 budget for supplies and
materials adjusted for inflation each year.
The cumulative capital renewal projections for the next ten years are shown in the following chart along
with their impact on the School Departments composite K-8 FCI based on the initial field survey data:
$900,000 0.14
Brunswick K-8 Composite
$800,000
0.12
$700,000
0.10
$600,000
0.08
Funding
$500,000
FCI
$400,000 0.06
$300,000
0.04
$200,000
0.02
$100,000
$0 0.00
2004-052005-06 2006-07 2007-082008-092009-10 2010-11 2011-122012-132013-14
Funding to Maintain FCI Funding Projection FCI Maintained FCI from Projection
It is expected that the high-value renewal projects planned for the first five years of this projection ventilation
upgrades at three schools, four boiler replacements, and roof life extensions at five schools will reduce the
out-year funding requirements to maintain current composite FCI, and will actually lower the projected FCI in
the out-years by renewing these large systems earlier than would otherwise be indicated by their respective
service lives.
Based on the initial field survey information provided by Northeast Building Consultants in May 2004, the FCI
for Longfellow Elementary School is 0.06. This value will most likely increase as the initial survey data is
currently being refined and lower-value requirements are being added, however, the FCI is not expected to
exceed 0.10 once these efforts are completed.
Using the methodology described above, the capital renewal projections for the next ten years for Longfellow
Elementary School are shown in the following chart along with the impact on FCI based on the initial field
survey data:
$500,000 0.07
Longfellow Elementary School
$450,000
0.06
$400,000
$350,000 0.05
$300,000
0.04
Funding
FCI
$250,000
0.03
$200,000
$150,000 0.02
$100,000
0.01
$50,000
$0 0.00
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14
Funding to Maintain FCI Funding Projection FCI Maintained FCI from Projection
Specific capital renewal projects listed in the current Five -Year Capital Improvement Plan (over $25,000 in
value) include the following:
As stated previously, it is expected that the high-value, and as-yet-unplanned projects for 2009-10 and beyond,
will drive the actual out-year FCI even lower.
The Brunswick School Department will make copies of all studies available to the Department of Education upon
request. Please contact Jim Oikle, Business Manager, Brunswick School Department, 729-4148.
If you have further questions regarding the application or the application process please contact:
C. Site Location
Please see the attached map to the schools in these applications.
From I-295 exit 28, follow Route U.S. 1 and take the Maine Street exit. Immediately get into left-turn lane, turn
left onto Mason Street, and proceed to Federal Street. Turn right onto Federal Street and proceed to
Longfellow Avenue (past main Bowdoin College campus). Turn right onto Longfellow Avenue and proceed to
Longfellow Elementary School.