Phase I Interview

Phase I Interview

Coop School Board

Facilities Committee

August 12, 2003

Committee Members present: Kim Casey, Lucy Cushman, Patti Lovejoy, Roy Morrissette,Gary Heald (High School Principal), Walter Piece (Business Manager), Dick Wendell (Building & Ground’s Manger), Skip Hanson (Superintendent)

Reuse Committee: Helen Crowe, Lionel Ingram, Keith Noyes, Donna Schlachman

Intro: Keith explained that our meeting with them was part one of a three phase process we would be utilizing in our work: 1) hear concerns; 2) hear wishes; and 3) make recommendations to the SAU #16 Board. He stated that we were here to listen, and invited the committee members to express their concerns. This was a free-flowing discussion, as the committee had evidently not discussed this ahead of time among themselves, and did not present their ideas in any order of priority. They did, however, in the course of discussion make it clear that their responsibility first and foremost was to “due diligence” regarding the educational needs of SAU #16. Thus, their primary concern was to preserve enough space to meet the needs of for 4 important programs/uses: SST, Alternative Education, Adult Education and SAU offices.

Discussion was as follows:

1. The SST: They all expressed a strong desire to see that the SST stay put! They wanted to assure that it would not only have enough space to expand in ways they have already identified as a need, but that they also be able to grow to meet the educational needs of their students over time. There was some talk as to whether or not SST would develop into a full-day high school and, therefore, make use of the indoor and outdoor athletic facilities. This is not presently in their plans, but might be in their long-range plans. Feelings were expressed regarding the service the SST provides the town of Exeter, “from an ideological standpoint”, in providing a school presence. With SST at Linden Street, Exeter still has a school at that site.

2. Alternative Education Program: The school is trying to expand its program so that kids do not drop out. It is a way of decreasing the upwards of 16% of students who start but do not finish high school. We have not done a good job meeting the needs of kids who would benefit from an Alternative Education program. The Alternative Ed program is for high school aged students who seem to be the round pegs and don’t fit our square-holed education system. They are often bright kids but cannot be managed in our regular high school. The most successful programs are apparently those with separate facilities from the regular high school. The students often drop out and back into school. There needs to be a place for them to go.

3. Adult Education: we did not spend anytime discussion the details of the programs offered through SAU #16, but the committee expressed strong enthusiasm for assuring that there is adequate space for this program to continue and, perhaps, to expand.

4. SAU #16 Offices: The committee expressed the desire to move these offices over from the rental property on Front Street. There would apparently be a cost saving in this move.

Additional Concerns:

that we not give up the whole property in case we (the Coop or even Exeter Elementary) need it in the future for educational purposes. “We will never be able to buy a piece like this again -- in town location”
that the School Board be able to justify keeping the buildings, from a financial standpoint. They do not want to be landlords to structures that are not being used for educational purposes. They need to satisfy the taxpayers of all 6 towns, and will be under pressure to get revenue from the site. The Board has already decided that whatever they do, it has to be “cost neutral”.

If they decide to keep part of the property, they need to look at whether or not to keep the actual buildings or demolish the old parts and just the site. The cost of mothballing buildings has been looked at.

They do know, from input they received from the community prior to the vote for the new school, that the 1912 wing of the Tuck Building must stay. It has sentimental value and should be preserved -- at least the facade of this original building. The 1928 wing, where the gym is housed, does not carry the same emotional attachment in the community, though the committee is not averse to keeping this part and seeing the gym used.
that some open spaces be maintained, for recreation or school facilities -- “either way it should stay green”

Ideas (not concerns per se):

We should explore “regional” uses for the property....that needs be thought of in regional terms; there is a place to talk about the fact that some of the littler towns do not have room like this....for example, it could be a regional senior center or used for other social services. We need to think outside the box and talk about regional uses.

One regional use might be centralizing both school (SAU and 6 elementary school districts) and town (6 towns) receiving and distribution activities, thus saving schools and town money. Keith confirmed that all the towns would benefit from sharing a facility for warehousing their supplies .Dick Wendall also indicated that the school had already experienced cost savings by using 131 Court Street for centralizing its paper purchases.

Perhaps Exeter should consider purchasing the Jr. High (annex) site for recreation or school uses - providing other towns do not want it.

they might lease the buildings (there was not specific discussion on this)

the Re-Use committee should talk to the Town Managers and/or selectmen from the other towns about any “regional” needs and uses of property there may be such as: shared purchasing/warehousing, regional adult day care; common use sports facility; civic center.

Next Meeting: Before we meet again, the Coop Board was asked to think about their specific space/facility needs; to be concrete about what they want to do and how much space they need.

Re-Use Committee tasks: We need to arrange interviews with the Exeter School Board and Selectmen for all 6 towns. We should provide info. ahead of time so they can be thinking about it.

Donna Schlachman, scribe