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Board weighs options for Mary Hurd program and building as maintenance needs mount
Summary
At the RSU 60/MSAD 60 workshop, members discussed whether to relocate Mary Hurd programming to other buildings, temporary modular options, or phase out the building, noting roughly $140,000 in near-term maintenance costs including a possible $100,000 boiler replacement.
Board members and administrators considered options for the Mary Hurd program and its aging facility during the March 24 budget workshop.
Administrators reminded the board that Mary Hurd School was a gift from the Hurd family and that repurposing or discontinuing that use may require town approval. A staff member cautioned that moving the program does not necessarily produce operational savings because building maintenance continues even if programming relocates.
Board members raised physical and programmatic considerations: one member proposed temporarily using a cottage/mobile unit to house the program while exploring consolidation; another said combining students into Lebanon or other buildings could reduce weather-related commutes and might be feasible but requires thorough space and program analysis.
The board was also given a facility-cost estimate: “There’s a $140,000 of facility maintenance for Mary Hurd just for this year,” an administrator said, and noted that a boiler replacement accounted for a significant portion of that figure. Members asked administration to include facility maintenance and any town-approval implications in future budget scenarios.
The board did not decide to close or repurpose Mary Hurd; instead members asked administrators to present scenarios that include maintenance costs, possible consolidation plans and any legal or town-approval steps required before a change in use.
