Sharon School Committee Endorses Town Plan to Buy Land Next to High School

The Sharon School Committee will support the town in their effort to purchase property next to Sharon High School.

The committee recently voted to support the selectmen efforts to buy 175 Pond Street with a 5-1 vote. Veronica Solomons was the only member to vote against the motion.

“There’s nothing about buying that property that adds to the value of our student’s education,” Solomons argued. “There’s nothing that couldn’t be done without that property.

Vice-chair Emily Smith-Lee believes that the land will provide more options when the high school possibly has to be renovated down the road.

“It appears to me that our options are more vast and have better availability to make a better plan for the high school. Like it or not we’re going to be adding to that high school,” Smith-Lee said. “I agree with Bill (Heitin) that strategically owning land around your key proprieties is a good thing to do.

According to selectmen chairman Bill Heitin, who spoke at the school committee’s Sept. 3 meeting, the town recently finalized negotiations with the owner of the property which sits adjacent to Sharon High School

The purchased price will be $317,000 and will be paid with capital funds. An addition $10,000 will be needed for the demolition and cleanup of the multi-family dwelling that currently sits on the land.

Next, the town needs a vote a town meeting to go ahead with the purchase.