Future Of Stephentown School Discussed

by David Flint
Stephentown Elementary School has been an educational fixture in the community since 1948. With the end of the school year last month, that era is over. The Town Board and residents are now wrestling with what use might now be made of the building and grounds and what role the Town of Stephentown should play and how much can they afford to invest in it. That was the topic of a public hearing held at the Town Hall on Monday evening. In addition to Town Board members, 22 residents attended, coincidentally the same number or people who responded to a questionnaire sent out earlier this year soliciting ideas and preferences regarding how the facility might be used.
Town Supervisor Tom Sherman provided the results of that questionnaire which showed some interest in using the school for a variety of cultural, educational, medical and social purposes. A committee comprising himself, school officials and Town residents has been exploring the options. Four educational grants have been applied for, one for Head Start – rejected because both Berlin and New Lebanon have preschool programs, two for before and after school programs and one involving Congressman Scott Murphy for $1.2 million for a technology learning center. Sherman said there might also be some federal stimulus money available. The intent is to lease the building from the Berlin School District for $1 per year and have tenants that would offset the operating and maintenance costs. With educational programs included and the District retaining ownership, State aid could be had for upgrades, operation and maintenance and grant money would be more readily available.
Councilman PJ Roder started things off asking what the cost to taxpayers might be to maintain and operate the 14,000 square foot building and keep up the grounds. The closest estimate appeared to be a number provided by Cyril Grant, a Stephentown resident who is also the Buildings & Grounds Superintendent for the Berlin Central School District. Grant had determined earlier for the School Board that the cost of operating and maintaining the facility for the 2007-08 school year was $116,023. That, of course, was with the building functioning as a school for 66 students with a full staff. The District has now budgeted a little less than half that to keep the building and grounds at a minimal maintenance level.
People at the hearing appeared to be very wary of having the Town commit to any endeavor that could prove to be very costly to the Town. On the other hand, there appeared to be some consensus that the playground, athletic field and outdoor basketball court are very important and some arrangement needs to be made to preserve their use for the Town. It was pointed out by several persons that the grounds are much used by residents and the Town has in fact invested to some extent in the recent past in the costs of the basketball court and the playground equipment.  Bill Jennings said it was important to let the School Board know that, however the proposals for using the building should turn out, the taxpayers here are definitely interested in maintaining the use of the fields for “our kids.” Councilman Larry Eckhardt, too, was of the opinion that the playground is most important. The Youth Commission’s summer program, he said, could possibly be held at the Fire Hall, but the school grounds are the only park or playground that the Town has. Others thought that the Town Hall could be used for after school programs and for the Stephentown Seniors. Eckhardt suggested the Town make an offer to buy the grounds and let some private company take over the building.
It was pointed out by several people, and confirmed by Code Enforcement Officer Dean Herrick, that the building would have to be brought up to code if the occupancy is changed. Others questioned the lack of parking for the proposed uses. But there was some concern as to what the School District would do with the building and grounds if the Town did not pursue an arrangement for its use. Cyril Grant did not know the answer to that, but he affirmed that at present the District is committed to the success of any cooperative endeavor that should be decided upon. He said he thought that the Board’s immediate intention was not to sell the building. They would prefer to lease it out and continue some sort of education related programs there. In any case, he assured everyone that as long as he is Buildings & Grounds Superintendent he would not allow the building to get run down.
Though most at the hearing seemed to lean toward just negotiating with the School District to somehow preserve the use of the grounds, some thought that it would be a shame to let go the opportunity of making some good use of the building without more fully exploring the options. Joel Hunt suggested the Town look into the experience of North Greenbush where an abandoned school building was converted into space for town offices and other community functions. He pointed out that even in Stephentown things could change and the existing Town Hall might not be adequate in the future. Library Board President Sue Brisette said she recognized it might be more than the Town can afford but the Town should continue to investigate funding options. She said that now is a good time to be looking for grant money but it can’t be done by committee and it won’t happen unless a professional is appointed who would be dedicated to getting it done. She suggested the Town and/or School District hire someone on a contract basis for a period of three or four months. Sherman said he liked that idea but it must be done in conjunction with the School District. He recalled how in North Adams a grant writer was hired who was found to be “worth his weight in gold.”
Sherman’s assessment was that the hearing was very profitable, though he would have preferred to have more Town residents present to voice their opinions. With things still up in air at this point, Sherman said there would be additional public hearings to further discuss the situation.