In 2004 the SAD 50 Board began considering the future of Georges Valley High School located in Thomaston. GVHS serves the towns of Thomaston, Cushing and St, George. The SAD 50 Board formed the “GVHS Future Options Taskforce” to look into possible scenarios for GVHS.

 

An enrollment projection study was completed, as was a review of the educational programs and physical space at GVHS.   A steady decline in enrollment was projected, and the analysis of the building revealed that it would cost nearly as must to repair/upgrade the existing early 1960’s era building as it would to rebuild it completely.  In addition, the taskforce determined that the projected decrease in the student body (down to approximately only 250 students by 2010) would not provide the “critical mass” of student they need to offer a full array of courses that their students would need to succeed in the 21^st century. Finally, it was also noted in the report that it was extremely unlikely that the State would provide any funding to repair, update or rebuild a high school for a small (and declining) number of students – if the GVHS were to be repaired/updated/ rebuilt – the taxpayers of SAD 50 would have to bear the total cost.

 

After a long hard tear of research, discussion, field trips, data analysis, the Future Options Taskforce recommended that SAD 50 should consider building a new building and possibly consolidating with a neighboring high school. The Taskforce also recommended that the new regional HS that they proposed should be co-located on the Many Flags campus, along with the Voc Tech School and a Higher Ed Center.

 

This is of course a very brief overview of  the extensive work that the Taskforce completed.  Please click here to download a full copy of the SAD 50 Future Options Taskforce report –complete with detailed enrollment projections, analysis and  recommendations.

  SAD 50 Future Option Taskforce Report