Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears town consultant propose demolition, adaptive reuse options for Jeffrey and Ryerson properties
Summary
A town ad hoc facilities report recommended demolishing Ryerson and adaptively reusing Jeffrey Elementary (including a potential 10,000 sq ft space for Madison Youth & Family Services); the town has asked the board whether it supports further study of moving district central offices to Jeffrey.
The board received a detailed liaison report from its town ad hoc facilities committee contact about options for the Jeffrey and Ryerson properties following a failed referendum on the academy/community center.
The committee hired a consultant to assess adaptively reusing the buildings. The consultant's preliminary recommendations favored demolition of Ryerson and adaptive reuse of Jeffrey Elementary, with a concept to remove portable classrooms and repurpose roughly 10,000 square feet on the Green Hill side for Madison Youth & Family Services while leaving other portions of the building available for town or district use.
Board liaison and members discussed long‑range demographic projections and possible district space needs. "I recommended to the committee that the town keep the property as a location for a potential school should one be needed sometime in the next decade or so," the liaison said, citing modest projected enrollment growth.
Board members raised practical concerns: shared services (technology and finance staff), additional code‑compliance costs when changing a school to another use, and the absence of final monetary figures. A consultant estimate discussed at the meeting put a refurbishment ballpark figure on the order of tens of millions; board members characterized the likely figure as about $20 million for phased work if the town pursued full renovation rather than demolition.
The ad hoc committee requested the board vote at a future meeting on whether the board supports further study of moving district central offices to Jeffrey. Superintendent Cook said he is "fully on board" with exploring the concept but cautioned staff time and priorities; he also said other facility priorities (auditorium/gym upgrades) might rank higher for school needs.
The board did not take a final position at this meeting; members asked that the item be scheduled as an action item for the March 24 meeting so the board can decide whether to support further study.
