Cape Elizabeth Public Schools has been awarded funding through the Maine Department of Education’s FY26 School Revolving Renovation Fund (SRRF) for a major safety and accessibility improvement project at Pond Cove Elementary School.
Out of 35 projects approved statewide, Cape Elizabeth was one of just three school districts in Cumberland County to receive an award during this funding cycle. The approved project includes $685,732 to support safety and security improvements at Pond Cove Elementary.
The SRRF program provides zero-percent interest loans for critical school infrastructure projects, with a portion of each award forgiven as a grant. These funds are dedicated to health, safety, and compliance upgrades that help schools maintain safe, accessible, and modern learning environments.
The project qualified for SRRF funding because it addresses both safety and accessibility needs by upgrading outdated communication equipment and adding visual alerts and synchronized systems to ensure emergency messages are accessible to all students and staff. The work replaces a 1994-era system with aging wiring, inconsistent speaker coverage, and unsynchronized, battery-powered clocks, bringing Pond Cove a modern emergency communication system that improves clarity, reliability, and school-wide coordination.
This SRRF grant represents the largest single-building award the district has ever received, underscoring the significance of the project and the state’s investment in safety and accessibility at Pond Cove.
The successful application was led by David Bagdasarian, Facilities Director, in close partnership with Marcia Weeks, School Business Manager, with the support of the Superintendent and School Board. Their work reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to proactively identifying safety needs and leveraging state resources to reduce the burden on local taxpayers.
More information about the SRRF program and the full list of approved projects is available on the Maine Department of Education’s website.