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School Committee declares Pleasant Valley and Currier schools surplus, conditions transfer to city
Summary
The Methuen School Committee voted to declare the Pleasant Valley and Currier school properties surplus and to transfer them to the city contingent on conditions requiring any proceeds to be used for school infrastructure; the votes were split on Pleasant Valley and unanimous on Currier.
The Methuen School Committee on June 9 voted to declare two district properties'Pleasant Valley and Currier Schools'surplus and to transfer them to the City of Methuen, subject to conditions the committee specified.
The motion on Pleasant Valley directed that the property be declared surplus and transferred only if the city agrees to conditions the committee attached; a roll-call vote recorded five "yes" votes and one "no." The vote on the Currier School passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The committee said it intends the proceeds from any disposition to be restricted to large-scale school infrastructure projects, such as roofs and HVAC systems, and reported it had checked with the Division of Local Services on how surplus-proceeds can be handled. Committee members said returning underused buildings could save maintenance and utility costs in the district and potentially preserve student-facing positions.
Key numbers and conditions: The superintendent told the committee she had confirmation from the Division of Local Services that proceeds would have to go into a city fund earmarked for large infrastructure projects. A committee member estimated the district could save roughly $250,000 annually in utilities by transferring the properties; the superintendent and staff said the city had already provided a one-time $900,000 payment to the district earlier in the budget process.
What the committee decided: Pleasant Valley was declared surplus and the transfer to the city will proceed only if the city council accepts the committee's stated conditions; if the city declines the conditions the property will not be transferred. The Currier School vote is subject to the same conditional language and passed unanimously.
Ending: Committee members said they would continue discussions with the city council and the mayor on how any proceeds would be handled and to press for the funds to be used on district capital projects.
