Jan. 21--FARMINGTON -- A former shoe shop will become the site for some classes offered by Foster Regional Applied Technology Center during the construction/renovation planned at Mt. Blue High School and the center.
Mt. Blue Regional School District Directors approved signing a lease with Cousineau Properties to rent a portion of the Franklin Shoe building on High Street, said Superintendent Michael Cormier.
The district will lease 15,000 square feet at a rate of $3 per square foot or $45,000 per year for a two-year period, he said.
The school will begin moving in June just prior to the end of school so that equipment will be in place and the space can be retrofitted over the summer. Some students of FRATC will begin classes there in the fall.
In other business, from last week's meeting, the board heard an update from the Fund Raising Committee. While the state will provide funding for the basics of the newly renovated school, the committee has already started working to raise money for items that go beyond those basics, Cormier said.
With an expected 50-year lifespan for the renovated school, the funds will be used for things such as sound proofing, sound systems, furniture ... things that enhance the school and last the 50 years, he added.
Nearly $450,000 of the $1.5 million goal has been raised from individual and company donations. A more public campaign planned to start in March.
The committee is tweaking some ideas for smaller contributions including a possible sale of bricks and a challenge for each of the 40 classes that have graduated from Mt. Blue High School since 1970.
The renovation includes 40 classrooms so each of the 40 classes that contribute a $1,000 donation will have a plaque posted outside the classroom noting the contribution.
Classes will also be challenged with a special recognition for the class giving the highest donation and one for the class with the highest percentage of donations. While earlier classes graduated well over 200 students, recent classes have been less than 200 so even a $5 donation from one class member will count toward the class' percentage of giving.
