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Selectboard presses district on plans amid fears Lester School could be repurposed
Summary
Board members said a recent news item misstated district plans and resolved to press the superintendent for clear timelines and at least months (potentially a year) of notice if the school will be closed, citing traffic, cost and building-maintenance concerns.
Board members spent significant time contesting a newspaper paragraph that implied Lester School might be closed as part of a voluntary merger with neighboring districts. Members said the article misrepresented a school board member's remarks and that the town needs a clearer timeline before it could budget for or absorb the building in any repurposing scenario.
The Chair said the board wants an explicit plan and earlier notification from the superintendent. One Committee member suggested inviting Dr. Sanchez to a future selectboard meeting and pressing him "about the question... what are your future plans for this building?" The board discussed that the town could not absorb unexpected maintenance costs and stressed a request for advance notice (six months to a year) to plan for possible municipal takeover or required investments. Members also raised traffic and busing impacts that would follow any change in how grades or preschoolers are assigned to the building.
