Why does Cape Elizabeth need a new middle school?
Education has continually evolved to address the needs of society at various points in history. In the 1880s, a one-room schoolhouse sufficed because the primary educational goals were geared towards agriculture, factory work, and small business. College preparation was limited to a select few.
As we advanced through the Industrial Revolution, the increased complexity of governments and organizations created a demand for educated managers and civil servants. To meet this need, the education system expanded to include more subjects such as accounting, math, and basic science. This shift necessitated a move away from the one-room schoolhouse to a model featuring multiple grades and specialized teachers, with physical facilities evolving to support these changes.
Today, we face similar challenges. Modern business and academia require knowledge of science, robotics, coding, new literature, and an appreciation of diversity. The educational demands of the 21st century can't be fulfilled using facilities and methods developed in the mid-20th century. Just as it was necessary to evolve from the one-room schoolhouse and the curriculum of the 1930s, it is now time to update our educational infrastructure and approach to meet contemporary needs.
Our school infrastructure is approaching a breaking point. Pond Cove Elementary School, Cape Elizabeth Middle School, and Cape Elizabeth High School all require costly and critical updates to safely educate our community’s children.
Comprised of a patchwork of additions and renovations, the middle school has an average age of 64 years with some portions of the building dating to 1934. This building is beyond its useful life; most school buildings are abandoned after 60 years, let alone 70 or 90 years. It is the oldest of our school buildings — and it shows. Maintenance and utility costs are soaring, and many of the walls are load bearing and cannot be renovated in order to meet educational needs.
Bonding tens of millions of dollars to extend the life of this failing infrastructure would yield a poor return on investment. According to the work of the SBAC, the expected lifespan of a new middle school would far exceed that of costly renovations — by decades. New construction provides a better return on investment on a year-of-useful-life-per-dollar basis, making it the most cost effective approach.
