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Select board agrees to let withdrawal subcommittee study second-floor space as temporary RSU central office
Summary
The board gave consensus to a withdrawal subcommittee to research feasibility, costs and ADA implications of using the Town of Buckfield town office second floor as a temporary regional school unit (RSU) central office, with subcommittee to return with pricing and options.
The Town of Buckfield Select Board on June 16 agreed to let a withdrawal subcommittee study whether the town-office second floor could serve as a temporary central office for a new RSU if a withdrawal proposal passes. The subcommittee requested permission to obtain pricing and feasibility information; the board signaled consensus to proceed.
Neil (speaker 5), representing the withdrawal subcommittee, told the board the group was asked to "double check with the select board" and explore options across Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner. He said the subcommittee is looking at multiple locations, including the town office second floor, a former Oxford Networks building and the possibility of a portable structure on school property.
Neil described the likely central-office staffing as small — "a maximum of 4 people, which includes the superintendent" — and said the subcommittee is preparing options that could range from a temporary 1–3 year arrangement to a longer five-year solution. "It seems like Buckfield has the most possible locations," he said.
Board members raised practical questions about the space: the presence of two air conditioners, whether walls or temporary partitions would be needed, restroom accessibility and the chairlift for ADA access. Staff cautioned the board that the second-floor restroom and general cleanliness would need attention and that any rental agreement might need to cover cleaning and utility costs.
Members discussed trade-offs, including whether an on-site portable would avoid lease costs, and emphasized the need for the subcommittee to return with concrete numbers. The board did not take a formal vote; instead, it asked the subcommittee to include estimates for lease costs, utilities, cleaning, necessary ADA upgrades and duration options when it reports back.
The subcommittee expects to compare short-term, low-cost options with longer-term lease possibilities and report back to the full board with recommendations and cost estimates.
