Citizens of MSAD 46

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Archiving and making available documents and resources in support of discussions on the important issues before us.

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6/28/2006

Excerpts, Garland Town Reports 1998-2005, Concerning Dexter Middle School [+/-] ##

1998:
Plans are being developed regarding an overall future “campus” plan for the district’s Primary/Middle School. All citizens are urged to participate in planning for the district’s future needs.
…
As referenced above, we are looking at the Primary/Middle School buildings to see if they will meet our needs for the future.

1999:
One idea is to attempt a renovation of the existing building…

Another option…is construction of a new middle school at the current site…there are outstanding issues regarding traffic, parking, and questions about the amount of usable space on this site.

A third option is construction of a new school at an alternate site. Location and other factors need to be considered. Other options will undoubtedly be looked at. The entire issue will require public participation in every phase of the discussion and decision-making process.

2000:
For more than a decade, there have been numerous attempts at replacement of the current Dexter Middle School…As many of you know; the school is a fifty-year old, deteriorating wooden structure, poorly insulated…
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Please join us as we attempt to address this very important issue.

2001:
Readers of these reports will recall that over the last few years we have discussed the necessity of addressing problems with the Middle School building, either by extensive reconstruction or by replacement.
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One possible answer to this problem is cooperation or consolidation among high schools. …These discussions are just beginning, but our natural tendency is to proceed cautiously. We will attempt to keep you informed as we proceed. As always, your input on this question is appreciated.

2002:
We have identified the Dexter Middle School as in need of replacement. The structure has outlived its design and materials. There are too many structural defects…
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Over the next several months we will be conducting an extensive study of whether or not a multi-district consolidated high school is the best long-term solution to our current middle school building issue. …We ask that you participate in any way you can in the discussions of the issues, so that when it is time to make the decisions, we will all have the available facts.

2003:
For more than a decade the District has attempted to replace our Middle School, for a variety of reasons. If a replacement for the Middle School were built, what type of construction materials and design would you recommend?
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Should we pursue high-school consolidation with the idea of transporting high-school age students to another facility, freeing up our present high school for use by middle school students?

2005:
Does it matter at all whether the Towns have their own school buildings or do you think that a district-wide, K-8 consolidated school, located in Dexter, would provide a more equitable, efficient method of educating our community’s children?
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The proposal for a new middle school, discussed in these annual reports for the last several years, has now evolved into a proposed combined elementary and middle school. An implication of this is that the combined proposal, if supported by the District as a whole, will result in the Garland and Exeter schools being closed. In both instances, the affected communities will be able to think of creative uses for these facilities. However, the larger questions, such as school culture, the relationships of the schools with the communities, academic quality, and transportation concerns need to be addressed. The School Board has refused to address these issues in a significant way with the affected communities.

Citizens of MSAD 46

6/28/2006

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