Renovations at Wiscasset’s two schools this summer have included new roofing at the middle high school and prep work for an elevator at the elementary school. Together the improvements will cost about $1.2 million, according to Director of Transportation and Maintenance John Merry. “The roof is finished and work is progressing for the new elevator,” said Merry, who gave Wiscasset Newspaper a tour of the buildings Friday morning, Sept. 1.

“The change everybody will notice will be here at the elementary school,” continued Merry. “As people maybe heard, we’re building a two-story addition onto the end that faces the ballfield for the installation of an elevator. When it’s completed, this will bring the building back into ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance.” For years, the grammar school on Federal Street had relied on an electric chairlift to carry students and staff unable to use the stairs from one floor to another. “It had gotten to where it was no longer reliable, or safe to use. We looked at replacing it but found our stairways weren’t wide enough to accommodate the type of lift we needed.” The old lift will eventually be removed.

After months of planning, Blane Casey Contractors of Augusta began work during summer break.  Merry said the job is on track to be done in early February. Merry said the school department could not have picked a better contractor. “Both David Coons, Blane Casey’s construction superintendent, and Reilly Bolduc, the project manager, have been really great to work with, and their workers very accommodating to all the school department’s needs.”

Among the first things the contractor did was build temporary walls on all three floors to separate students and staff from the work. “This makes it much safer for everyone and cuts down somewhat on the noise from the construction work,” added Merry. The partitions at the end of the hallways are hardly noticeable. Another change for the coming school year was moving the music room from the cafeteria floor to a portable classroom behind the school.

Coons said that before work could start the wooden staircase and walkway at the south entrance had to be cleared away and a tree taken down. On Friday, the crew was taking advantage of the dry weather to get more work done on the elevator addition’s foundation. The brick addition is designed to blend in with the school’s exterior.

“We know continuing on with the work with school back in session isn’t an ideal situation but when the project’s finally done it’s going to make going from floor to floor so much easier. I think the staff will be saying, how on Earth did we ever do without this,” added Merry. The elementary school and gymnasium were built in 1951 and enlarged in 1968 to include the second story along with the cafeteria on the lower level.

Across town, the other big project, a new roof at the middle high school, was finished earlier this summer. Before that, heavy rain had caused frequent leaks and staff had to place trash cans to catch the water. Some of the worst leaks were in the gymnasium, front lobby and cafeteria. Others were in the art and tech rooms and in the hallway of the new wing. The price for the re-roofing was $162,000 and was well spent, said Merry. G & E Roofing of Augusta was the contractor.

“We replaced a good deal of the old stone ballasted roof with a much better rubberized material made by the Firestone corporation. It has a 25-year warranty,” added Merry. The high school, which Merry graduated from, was constructed in 1961. A second story classroom addition still referred to as the new wing was constructed in 1974. It included the addition of an elevator.

Inside the schools, the facilities’ staff have been busy cleaning classrooms and hallways bringing a bright shine to the two buildings. “We’re very fortunate to have the custodial staff we have. They take pride in their work and it definitely shows,” Merry said, walking through the hallway past the office area to the middle high school’s front lobby. A set of older doors were replaced in the gymnasium, a new drop ceiling was installed and several classrooms and the principal’s office received a fresh coat.