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LEWISTON — School officials say the first step toward confronting a dire need for classroom space is creating a concept plan for its building at 287 Main St., which will be a major piece in a long-term plan that will likely reorganize school facilities.

The department has requested $1 million in next year’s city Capital Improvement Plan to help create concept designs for the Main Street building, as well as funding ways to maximize space in other school buildings as enrollment grows.

A week after discussing the likely need for expansion due in part to the success of its new special education program, Superintendent Jake Langlais told city officials the $1 million CIP request would allow the department to draft concept designs and complete the necessary engineering work to make the 287 Main St. project a reality.

While it’s still unclear what the building will be used for, Langlais said there are several options, and that it could align with reorganizing school buildings.

For example, he said, if the community decided to have two middle-school grade sites, it could free up space elsewhere and “we could do some unique things with programming” between the Dingley Building on Oak Street and 287 Main St.

An initial estimate for renovating and reconfiguring the building last year was $14 million, but Langlais said officials should compare that to the estimated price tag for a new building, which would be in the $40 million range. Any bonding of that size would go to the voters, he said.

“We’re trying to be mindful of meeting the need and having a plan, but also not being pinned down long term by a facility larger than we need,” he said.

The school department bought the three-story Main Street building last year from Central Maine Healthcare for $1 million. At the time school officials said they were eyeing new office space for the Dingley Building, which currently houses administrative offices, but that was before the district rolled out its CLIMB program that keeps special education students in-house.

Officials have said the CLIMB program has saved the department roughly $2 million in its first year, but it has also added to existing enrollment growth and projections for the future that have them concerned about space. While families will be paying the district tuition to send their children to CLIMB, the district is also faced with buildings that are full.

Enrollment this year, at 6,067, is up from 5,842 last year, and is nearly 1,000 more students than the district had during the 2020-21 school year. Langlais said the CLIMB program, now up to roughly 50 students, has added 25 this year to date. They anticipate another 15 next year, he said. 

During a council budget workshop this week, Langlais said the $1 million in capital funds will allow the school department to “get beyond” its initial assessment of the Main Street building, and get closer to decisions on how to turn the former medical office into educational spaces.

He said the funds could also be used on smaller projects like the district completed for the new CLIMB program this past year when it renovated a wing of McMahon Elementary School.

At the same time, school architect and design firm Harriman Associates is conducting a “facilities assessment” on all Lewiston school buildings. Langlais said part of the assessment will be on “space needs for various educational programs,” noting that assessments have already taken place at Montello and Lewiston Middle School. Harriman did an assessment of the Longley campus in 2019, which will be updated, he said.

“The assessment will inform our 10-year Capital Improvement Plan and help plan for immediate, intermediate and long-term needs,” he said.

During the council discussion, Councilor Eryn Soule-Leclair questioned the $1 million funding ask given the uncertainty surrounding the plan for using the Main Street building.

“We’re still pretty far from having that building used for school or offices,” she said, adding that she’s “hesitant to put more money into the building” given it will take a lot more to get it school-ready.

There have also been previous concerns about past water damage in the building. When asked this week, Langlais said some of the issues have been addressed while others will need to occur during renovations.

Langlais said the district also plans to fundraise around the project, and that it’s “easier to fundraise if you have a concept.”

“It’s prudent to spend the time and money necessary to determine exactly what’s the best school department use for 287 Main St.,” said Mayor Carl Sheline this week.

Langlais was also asked how the district arrived at the $1 million figure. He said it was modeled after what other departments like police and fire have done when conducting engineering work on new facilities.

The total school department request in next year’s CIP is $3.9 million, which also includes $1.1 million for two roof replacement projects, and $1.5 million for new tennis courts at the Franklin Pasture complex. An initial request for $940,000 for a new security fence for the Franklin Pasture complex has been removed from the budget.