Engineering firm to examine Oxford Middle School

OXFORD – The path for a final decision on any changes for the future use of the Oxford Middle School has been laid out.

“The ultimate result of what changes might occur to the Oxford Middle School will probably be decided about a year from now, maybe next March,” said Oxford Academy Superintendent Randy Squier, as part of the district’s five-year plan for facility use and maintenance.

The middle school’s 77-year-old design proved vulnerable in last year’s severe floods, costing the school about $1.1 million in damages.

The brunt of the cost was covered by state and federal emergency aid. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has asked the school to increase its insurance on the middle school up to $1 million.

“The middle school used all its insurance to help pay for the damage suffered during the flood, and the premiums could cost the district three or four times as much,” said Squier.

The district was forced to take out a million dollar loan, of which $600,000 has been covered by insurance. The remaining $400,000 is supposed to be covered by federal emergency aid, but the district has not yet received the money.