Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenter urges SAU 16 and Stratham board to investigate nearby campus purchase for SST expansion
Summary
A public speaker told the board he has documents about a 91‑acre campus for sale near SMS and urged the district and SAU 16 to investigate acquiring it for career‑tech expansion; board members said they would coordinate with the SAU and the co‑op that manages funding decisions.
During the public‑comment period the board granted a nonresident three minutes to speak and heard a proposal about property across from the elementary school.
The speaker identified himself as George Shrinkwater and said a 91‑acre property previously used by Great Bay Community College is for sale and could be suitable for expanding the SST (career‑technical) program. He said he and retired colleagues had documents showing the property was sold about 10 years ago and, based on a private assessment he referenced, that the building "never had asbestos" and "has no mold." He urged the board and SAU 16 to convene a group to investigate the possibility of acquiring the site and suggested contacting state officials and a named senator for help.
Board members told the speaker they appreciated his passion and said SAU 16 and the cooperative (the funding body) would need to be involved: "That would definitely be a cooperative decision," the superintendent said, noting the co‑op controls the budget and any next steps would be coordinated with them.
The board did not take any action at the meeting but said it had already heard a similar presentation and that staff would follow up and gather further information about ownership and next steps.
Because the speaker’s assertions about sale terms, asbestos and mold were presented as his findings, the board characterized them as information to be investigated rather than as established fact.
