Editor:

On Nov. 6, South Portland will vote on a referendum to fund additions
and renovations to South Portland High School. As a member of the
Secondary Schools Facilities Committee, I am extremely proud of our
work and the plan presented to the voters.  

Three years in the making, the proposal meets our goal of creating a
learning facility to address the needs of the children and community of
South Portland. Once it was clear that no other parcel of land
could accommodate a new school, we situated the new building on the
existing site, cognizant of the need to minimize disruptions in the
educational process and the neighborhood, as well as preserving the
sledding hill. Bus pick-up and drop-off will be in a new dedicated
cul-de-sac behind Beal Gym, reducing congestion on Mountain View Road
and improving safety throughout the campus.

The new gymnasium and artificial turf multi-purpose field allows Martin
Field to host multiple athletic and non-athletic practices and
events. The gymnasium also provides a space that will comfortably
accommodate graduation and other events, is fully handicapped
accessible and allows students to reach playing fields without having
to cross busy public access drives. The cost of renovating Beal Gym to
allow it to remain as the school’s primary athletic facility would be
nearly equal to the cost of a new gym and would result in a substantial
loss in capacity. Because of its importance as a city landmark,
Beal Gym is retained for educational and community activities and after
school practices.

The plan addresses access and structural issues in the South Portland
Auditorium. The main lobby will be expanded, easier access to the
cafeteria provides staging area for performances, and the air quality
will be improved. Our plan creates a true community campus that
encompasses the community center, Beal Gym, the new school building and
the auditorium.

Our most important concern has been the new building’s educational
benefits. These include flexible classroom arrangements as well as
upgrading lighting, air quality, electrical and technology systems and
science facilities.  The building will accommodate any new courses
of study aimed at preparing out students for the 21st century. A
new library will be built and the award winning Robotics program will
also have a new home.

The committee was mindful of the negative impact that could occur on
the high school’s accreditation if these renovations and additions do
not happen. The present building has numerous ADA deficiencies,
obsolete mechanical systems, and asbestos abatement issues. We
have met the challenge to create a fiscally responsible proposal that
addresses the needs of our students for many years to come.  We
welcome the opportunity to discuss our proposal with the community.

For more information, contact the school department at 871-0555 or visit ssfc.spsd.org.

Ralph Cabana

South Portland