Plans to replace school building at Sipayik under way

Plans to replace Beatrice Rafferty School with a new K-8 building for Pleasant Point school children are proceeding, although funding has not yet been secured. The school, which had substantial renovations and an addition constructed 25 years ago, has significant water and mold issues.
According to Ron Jenkins, superintendent of Maine Indian Education, the school is among the top two or three schools on the list for replacement by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, but Congress has not yet appropriated funding for the replacement of Native American schools. "We're in a holding pattern," he notes.
However, Jenkins points out, "If Congress provides the funding to BIA, it could move fairly quickly." Although ground could be broken next spring, he expects that 18 months to two years may be a more realistic time frame. A cost estimate is not yet known.
Jenkins says, "We met with BIA officials about a week ago, and they told us to begin on the next steps." The Pleasant Point School Committee will be appointing a planning committee for the new school, and school board Chair Carol Taylor-Sprague says a couple of possible sites for the new school have been identified. However, the board has not yet voted on a location, which will have to be able to provide sufficient space. The tribal council also will have to approve the location. Jenkins anticipates a final decision on a location will be made soon.
Passamaquoddy Chief Clayton Cleaves says one possible site is near the intersection of Route 190 and Route 1, on the south side of Route 190. Although one proposal was to take down the tribal government building and build the new school in that location, which would be near the baseball field and provide plenty of space, Cleaves says the school board advised to locate the building in another area.
Ownership of the new building is another question that needs to be resolved. The Sipayik Tribal Council, at its June 7 meeting, approved a resolution to proceed with the application process with BIA to have the new school facility owned by the tribe. According to Jenkins, all three of the Maine Indian Education schools are owned by BIA, and the school board prefers BIA ownership, for handling maintenance issues. However, he notes that BIA is supposed to provide funding for maintenance whether the building is owned by the tribe or the bureau.
Concerning the condition of the current Beatrice Rafferty School, Jenkins notes that are issues with water, which has caused mold in the building, and with the roof, almost since the building was constructed. BIA has provided funding for repairs to ensure that the building is safe, but the amount for repairs may exceed the replacement cost, which is why a new building now is planned. Jenkins says that there also is an issue with the amount of space for the playground and athletics, since there is no available land around the building. The original building was constructed in 1970, with an addition and significant renovations having been done in 1986.
Cleaves would like to see the existing building renovated for use as a vocational school or possibly a rehabilitation center. "It's still salvageable, I believe," he says.