By Nate Jones

Staff Writer 

South Portland School Board candidate Jay Allen said he’s “tired of being the guy who pisses everybody off,” but is resolute in his belief the 22-member Secondary School Facilities Committee (SSFC) has “backed themselves into a corner.” He said he is convinced results from an exit poll survey approved by the SSFC last week to seek resident input about a high school reconstruction project “will make absolutely no difference” in the group’s goals.

“We’ve been through this before with the redistricting,” he said. “People spoke but [the SSFC] didn’t take any of that to heart, and this is the same sort of thing. It’s like talking to a brick wall.”

SSFC facilitator and Assistant Superintendent Steve Bailey said the group has seen “a lot of familiar faces” during four, one-hour sessions open to the public prior to the committee’s meetings for the last two months. One newcomer, interested in discussing “green and energy efficient” aspects of a new high school, attended last week’s meeting, Bailey said. 

“The public is not responding because people are resigned to the fact they’re not going to be listened to anyway,” school board candidate Kendall Fassett said. “They’re going to wait to respond until something outrages them.”

Fassett said he also feels the SSFC would “keep moving forward” in their efforts to present a new plan to the voters in 2009 regardless of the survey results. 

“[The SSFC] keeps hearing a message but it’s not deterring them from what they’re going to do,” he said. “It’s not the right time. In this economic climate we need to do the least we can do for safety and compliance with regulations.”

City Councilor and SSFC member Tom Blake said the survey “couldn’t hurt,” but the SSFC could “have to evaluate the mission of the committee” if residents are not supportive of the proposed project.

“I am in the completely opposite [end of the] spectrum of the rest of the committee,” he said. “[SSFC members] believe there is a serious need and they have been working so hard and are so focused [on the high school renovation] that’s where they’re minds are at.”

 Results from the exit poll survey do not necessarily indicate opposition to addressing the needs of the high school, Blake said. 

“The community is ready for a project, a reasonable project,” he said. “There is a number that will pass.”

In addition to approving the three-question exit poll survey that is currently being mailed to absentee voters, Bailey said the SSFC had settled on the larger and more expensive of two renovation plans – at a cost of $30 to $40 million – prepared by Harriman Associates engineering firm.

“[The less expensive plan] was more minimalist and had shortfalls,” Bailey said. “[The SSFC] looked at site design savings and is moving toward [the larger plan] at this point.” 

Bailey said the SSFC was also working on developing several repair and maintenance plans for the next five years that would need to be implemented regardless of any renovation efforts. 

“We can do things that will tide the buildings over for the next 15 to 20 years,” he said and estimated the cost of the renovations to be in the millions. “[The SSFC] is moving ahead and doing things we know will be needed for the students and is ultimately in the best interest of the community.”