School Committee to Meet with Property Owner About Land Purchase

After a brief discussion at their previous meeting, representatives of the school committee will meet with the owner of 175 Pond Street to discuss a potential purchase of the property

While nothing has been agreed upon, ideas are already being thrown around with what to do with the land if the school district buys it.

“I know there was some concern with what we would do with this building if we bought it. There might be some possibility with a sale/lease back to the owner,” committtee chair Emily Smith-Lee said.

Smith-Lee added that long term it may make sense to have the land in the event that it’s needed

“We don’t know what we are going to do with that high school building but we know we have to do something with it. Does it makes sense when an opportunity comes up to pick up to continuous property that is very hard to find? Does it make sense for long range planning to pick that up?” 

School committee member Jonathan Hitter only supported a teardown of the building if a purchase is made.

“If you do it you got to do a teardown. You don’t want to be a landlord or do a lease back. You’re either going to acquire it for future needs or not acquire it at all,” Hitter said

One road block however could be the price. Smith-Lee said the land is valued at about $300,000 and the price for a potential teardown and site prep of the land remains unknown.

While some members of the selectmen have shown interest in the land acquisition, the purchase would likely be made by the school.