School committee approves one‑year MOU letting town recreation occupy Clark Building

The Swampscott School Committee unanimously approved a one‑year memorandum of understanding allowing the town recreation department to occupy the Clark Building beginning Nov. 1.

Facilities director Max Casper presented the agreement and told the committee that "the recreation department will be paying the utilities for the building, gas and electric while they are occupying the building." Casper said custodial cleaning will be the recreation department's responsibility, while routine maintenance items — elevator, fire alarm and boiler contractors — remain the district's obligation.

Why it matters: Committee members pressed for clarity about insurance, utility responsibility and any budget gap before voting. Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations (Miss Stella) said the district carries a townwide property policy and that notifying the insurer about the change from vacant to occupied is prudent; she added that having the building occupied could reduce the district's vacant‑building insurance premium.

Board discussion focused on practical cost and staffing questions and on community expectations about ownership. One member cautioned the public that "the building's owned by the school department" and that any change in that ownership would be discussed and voted separately.

Outcome and next steps: A motion to accept the Clark School MOU was made, seconded and approved unanimously. The committee did not attach additional conditions in the recorded motion. Facilities staff and the recreation department will proceed under the signed MOU, with the district retaining responsibility for the longer‑term maintenance items described by Casper.

Provenance: The presentation and vote were discussed beginning in the meeting presentation by the facilities director and running through the committee motion and vote.