Springfield moves toward disposal of aging schools

The Springfield School District took another step toward plans to dispose of unwanted properties, and a special interest is one step closer to preserving one of those properties for recreation.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100118/NEWS02/1180353

Springfield moves toward disposal of aging schools

Rutland Herald

By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: January 18, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield School District took another step toward plans to dispose of unwanted properties, and a special interest is one step closer to preserving one of those properties for recreation.

Monday night, the district's Properties Committee — comprising Larry Kraft, chairman of the School Board and board member Scott Adnams — approved language for articles for town meeting in March that would give the board the authority to dispose of four properties: East School, North School, Southview and Park Street School.

With the exception of North School, the articles are identical, giving the board the authority to sell, give away or otherwise dispose of the properties, with the terms and conditions to be determined by the board.

The proposed language for the North School restricts the transfer to the recently formed North School Preservation Society, which has received nonprofit status from the state and is the process of receiving its federal nonprofit recognition. For months, the society's vice president, Jean Willard, has argued before the board against the board's plans to dispose of the property.

"This past weekend, there must have been 50 people sledding on the property," said Willard, who collected 370 signatures on a petition asking the board to not seek permission to dispose of the property, which for decades has been a recreation area for Springfield residents.

"It's been my intention all along to convey the property to the North School (Preservation) Society or another legal entity like them," said Adnams.

The district is waiting on the results of appraisals of the Park Street and East school properties, as well of a survey of the Southview property in light of the recent discovery that the property is part of a larger 5.5-acre parcel.

Kraft said even if the board receives permission from the voters, it would not dispose of the properties until it receives the results of the appraisals and the survey. The East School houses the Gateway Alternative Program, and the program director, Nancy Weiss, said she is close to reaching a lease agreement that would move it to another location for the fall.

The Southview property is home to the Springfield Community Players, in the second year of a 10-year lease with the district, and any future owner of the property would have to honor the remaining eight years of the lease.

Any money generated from property sales would go into the district's capital budget, not the operating budget. The board is expected to review the articles at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the high school cafeteria.