New Prescott School Committee In the Offing

The short term future of Prescott School will be defined by the needs of Groton-Dunstable Regional School District, which has been offered an extension to its lease on the Groton-owned building , set to expire in August 2015, but now that date could be pushed out to August 2016 following a meeting between the town and the district. Although supported by Selectmen, the School Committee still has to vote on this.

Town Manager Mark Haddad advised that he, Selectmen Jack Petropoulos and Anna Eliot, met with GDRSC Chairman Alison Manugian and Supt. of Schools Kristan Rodriguez to discuss the school building. Manugian told him that the School Department has two issues: Stability and costs.

Haddad cautioned that the town did not want to leave the district in limbo, and to provide them with adequate time to make other arrangements if needed.

The longer term for the Main Street structure will be the subject of analysis to be conducted by a new committee that will be appointed for this purpose. They will be charged with making recommendations on whether to sell or keep the property.

Selectman Petropoulos pointed out that if the decision is to put out another Request for Proposal (RFP) for lease or sale of the building, any buyer will have a tenant there with a lease to 2016.

The sale of the Prescott School has been defeated twice at town meeting, the most recent this fall when a proposal for purchase of the building, with a plan to keep school district offices in a part of the renovated structure with updated services, and a municipal parking lot at the back of the school, was defeated by two votes.

Haddad will bring his recommendation for a new committee and suggestions for membership to the Selectmen's meeting Nov. 24.