http://rutlandherald.com/article/20130828/NEWS02/708289937
Published August 28, 2013 in the Rutland Herald School Board approves East School sale By Christian Avard Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield School District is saying goodbye to one of its historic school buildings. The School Board approved a $100,000 sale during Monday’s meeting of the East School building to Springfield Medical Care Systems, the parent company of Springfield Hospital on Ridgewood Road. The bid was $50,000 less than the original asking price of $150,000, but the school board was still satisfied with the offer. Although both parties agreed to the sale, the final closing will not take place until the hospital’s new CEO arrives in December. “It’s not a done deal, but it will be closed by the end of the year,” Springfield School Board Chairman Scott Adnams said. “(Springfield Medical Systems) requested a three-month extension and it was granted.” The school district will be responsible for the building’s electric and heating bills until the sale is closed. The board set aside reserve money in this year’s budget to cover the operational costs and they will not request additional money from voters during the three-month period. The two parties agreed to the sale in principle back in June, but the board would not vote until Springfield Medical Services completed a general inspection of the site. Springfield Medical Services has not indicated how they will use the building. Both Springfield Superintendent of Schools Zach McLaughlin and Springfield Medical Care Systems director of Engineering Mark Blanchard were not available for comment about the deal. As for school board member Jeanice Garfield, the sale has been a long time coming and the board is glad the hospital is buying the building. “We’re just looking forward to the culmination process with the hospital. We got a great deal and we hope it works for all of us,” Garfield said. East School was built in 1920 and is a two-story, 12,300-square-foot building situated on two and a half acres of land on Summer Street. There are remnants of a small school cafeteria in the basement and two 1986 boilers that heated the building from a 10,000-gallon oil tank. A central hall bisects the building and there are large classrooms with old green chalkboards on the first and second floors. There are also smaller rooms that were used for offices by the principal, school nurse and teachers. The school closed years ago but it was used in recent years by the Gateway Program, a therapeutic and academic program for challenged students. Starting Thursday, Gateway will operate at Riverside Middle School in the lower floor classrooms.
I went to school here. I will be sad to see it go, but I totally understand the reason. Great memories of growing up in a different time. Great neighborhood back in the day.
ReplyDeleteDitto to that!
DeleteDid Yesman end up getting it for a dollar?
ReplyDeleteThat offer was for the Park Street School and he is still negotiating.
DeleteHe has threatened that if he doesn't get it for $.50 he is organizing a petition to allow his tenants to vote whether or not to award him the park street school for free.
The offer was for both Park Street and East School. It was a nice bit of grandstanding in order to demonstrate that the Selectboard could still be as rude as ever to the Schoolboard. I suppose that Yesman will get his pals Bill Morelock and Wendi Germaine to help him with another referendum as suggested by Anonymous 9:14.
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