has gone through,” Porter explains. “Each time, the board and community learned more about what would and would not work.” MOVING BEYOND MODULAR CLASSROOMS For more than a decade, MSAD #51 relied heavily on modular classrooms to accommodate rising enrollment. At one point, 33 modular units were in use, creating what many described as a school unto itself. “These are not simple trailers,” says Scott Poulin, Director of Finance, Human Resources, and Operations for MSAD #51. “They are connected modular classrooms that function like mini schools and come with significant operating and maintenance costs.” Each summer brought intense logistical challenges. Poulin explains that the district typically had a six- to seven-week window to complete site work, install modulars, and prepare for the new school year. “It has been an enormous amount of work every summer for nearly a decade,” he adds. Financially, the shift away from modular classrooms is equally significant.The district expects to redirect approximately $700,000 annually toward debt 353 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 MAINE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT #51
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