Board vets demolition of 4 Peaks and a plan to move Little Falcons preschool to McDowell Mountain

Speaker 3 (district administration) told the board the facilities committee recommends pursuing permission to demolish the 4 Peaks building because of extensive deferred maintenance and ongoing holding costs. The superintendent said the building has required millions in repairs and that a year‑old demolition estimate ranged "between 3 and 400,000" dollars; he added the district currently pays roughly $100,000 a year to maintain the vacant site. Staff estimated cleared land value at about $900,000 and said demolition and any expenditure would proceed only if a land sale and School Facilities Board approvals align.

Bernie, representing the facilities committee, said town staff and commercial developers have expressed little interest in buying the property while the building remains in disrepair and recommended seeking permission to remove the structure to reduce vandalism and ongoing costs. The board discussed adding a stipulation to any future demolition motion that the land sale proceeds be settled first; staff agreed that a future action item could include those caveats.

On the Little Falcons preschool, staff presented a detailed plan to relocate the tuition‑based preschool to McDowell Mountain Elementary for the 2026–27 school year. The proposal includes moving a small playground (staff quoted roughly $15,000 for an affordable playground option), repurposing two large classrooms and existing plumbing to add compliant restrooms, installing an 8‑foot block wall for security, and completing construction in the summer (plans in about six weeks, approximately six weeks of construction beginning June 1). Staff said the move would improve access to district services, supervision, security cameras and principals, and could reduce operating costs while preserving a preschool program that has seen high retention.

Why it matters: Removing blighted facilities and consolidating early‑childhood programs can reduce ongoing costs and shift resources to active students. Board members emphasized including explicit caveats — including the land sale and School Facilities Board action — before any final demolition approval.

Next steps: Staff will bring formal action language (including any sale stipulations) back to the board and coordinate public engagement for the Little Falcons relocation.