Winchester School Committee votes to transfer Mystic School to town control, approves lease assignment and town-meeting article

The Winchester School Committee unanimously voted Thursday to declare the Mystic School no longer needed for school purposes, to approve an assignment and assumption agreement for the property’s existing lease to the town, and to send a town‑meeting article requesting transfer of care, custody and control of the building to the select board. The committee recorded all three motions as approved without recorded dissent.

The action follows prior committee discussion and recent conversations with the select board about the facility, which currently houses Winchester Recreation Department programs and a nonprofit tenant. The committee’s motions included language directing the chair to work with staff to send the proposed town‑meeting article to the select board for review and possible co‑sponsorship.

Committee members said the Mystic School has not been used as a school building for years and that the building’s mixed use and tenant arrangements complicated school department management. Select board member Phil told the committee four members who discussed the transfer at a recent select board meeting indicated they were favorably inclined to the proposal and that the select board would likely cosponsor the article, though no formal select board vote had been taken.

School staff noted the building appears in the district facility assessment with very large repair needs; committee members referenced a VFA estimate of roughly $12 million for repairs over the next five years. Committee members and select board participants framed the transfer as a way to let town government make municipal decisions about the property’s future use and management.

Motions recorded by the committee included: a declaration that the Mystic School is no longer needed for school purposes and a recommendation for transfer to the select board; approval of an assignment and assumption agreement (dated July 25, 2018) to assign the current lease to the town, subject to town‑meeting approval of the transfer; and a motion to place a town‑meeting article on the fall warrant requesting the transfer and authorizing the school committee chair to instruct staff to send the proposed article to the select board.

The committee asked school department staff to continue coordinating with town counsel, town management and the select board as the article moves toward town meeting. Committee members also said they expect further conversation about other district properties in light of recent building openings and capacity studies.