METHUEN — School officials are looking to get rid of three buildings no longer used for educational purposes, for the most part.
It’s among the ideas the school system is examining for potential cuts in an attempt to meet budgetary restrictions for next year without debilitating the district, including potentially not filling the retirement of Superintendent Brandi Kwong’s secretary.
On Monday, the School Committee discussed handing Pleasant Valley School, Currier School and the Central School over to the city by declaring them surplus.
The move could shift costs for maintenance and upkeep for buildings off the school, and through the theoretical sale of two of the buildings, fund infrastructure investments in the remaining schools.
Central School is used the most of the three buildings, home to city offices, as well as set to be the site of the city’s first youth center through a nonprofit.
In transferring the building, officials said they would require the city to allow the Adult Learning Center to remain there and to maintain an agreement with the Leadership and Literacy Foundation, the group launching the youth center.
The Adult Learning Center was previously housed in the Currier School building.
The idea was presented by the Building/Facilities Subcommittee, a group made up of School Committee members Dan Shibilia, Mary Beth Donovan-Grassi and Ryan DiZoglio. Shibilia said the three members were in general agreement that the three buildings no longer serve a purpose to the school district, though he added that since witnessing the council’s process to put the Searles Estate on the market he said he had some concerns.
However, most members appeared in consensus that the district needed to at least get the properties off their hands.
Once the buildings are declared surplus by the committee, their future would be up to Mayor D.J. Beauregard and the council. The committee, however, is looking to require a percentage, yet to be determined, of the proceeds from the sale of Pleasant Valley School and the Currier School to fund school infrastructure projects.
DiZoglio worried that if sold, some buildings could potentially turn into housing, theoretically increasing demands of school services and district costs. Committee Vice Chair Laurie Keegan pointed out once the city sells the building, their use is out of the city’s hands.
Administrators did not have specifics at the ready on the exact maintenance costs for the schools.
Not only does the school system have to address maintenance issues when they arise in the buildings, but the repair and upkeep pulls staff away from other school buildings, Kwong added.
The proposal will likely come before committee members in an upcoming meeting in a more official capacity.