Committee recommends placing Eastman School property sale on November ballot

The capital facilities committee voted on Aug. 25 to recommend that the full Concord School Board place an article on the Nov. ballot asking voters to approve sale of the Eastman School property. A committee member moved that the committee recommend placing the ballot article; the motion was seconded and the committee voted in favor by voice vote. Committee discussion cited ongoing maintenance issues, lead and asbestos remediation work that has been required in the past, drainage and roof concerns, and the district’s lack of an educational need for the building. Supporters said proceeds from a sale could be directed to the district’s building fund or to offset middle-school capital costs. Committee members noted potential buyer interest from neighbors on parts of the property and stressed that selling the building would stop the district’s continuing maintenance obligations and could return the property to the tax rolls. Staff who have toured the building described prior asbestos and plumbing-remediation work and said additional maintenance needs would recur if the district retained the property. After the vote the committee requested that the motion to recommend be placed on the capital facilities committee’s next meeting agenda for formal recording and asked staff member Pam Walsh to add the item to the next full-board agenda packet for consideration by the school board.