Final Recommendations of the Linden Street Reuse Committee

 

Since May 2003, The Linden Street Reuse Committee has been meeting to develop a course of action for the Linden Street High School property once the new high school is completed. This summarizes the committee’s recommendations to the Cooperative School Board, the governing body of the Exeter Region Cooperative School District made up of the six towns of Exeter, Stratham, Brentwood, Newfield, East Kingston and Kensington, which owns the Exeter High School, the Annex and surrounding property:

A more detailed explanation and analysis of all summaries are included on the SAU 16 Web site  www.sau16.org The Web site also has a complete set of the committee’s minutes,

The committee conducted an exhaustive study, including surveying abutters, holding public hearings, meeting with appropriate school and town boards and community organizations and appraising the property. The Linden Street Reuse Committee respectfully submits the following recommendations for the consideration of the Cooperative School Board and the community at large:

•  The appraisal for the entire property came in disappointingly low, between $1 and $2 million for the entire parcel.  A number of future space needs for the Cooperative District were identified.   In addition, moving the Seacoast School of Technology would cost the District more than the sale price of the property. Consequently, selling the entire property would not be advantageous from either an economic or educational standpoint.

• The Cooperative District should maintain ownership of the current high school building and surrounding property, marked A on the attached map. The committee determined future space needs of the District as identified by the School Board could be addressed on this site. The needs could include Special Education Offices, Alternative and Adult Education, the new Charter School and possibly SAU offices. Additional space would also be available that could be leased, sold or torn down.

Equally important, the Seacoast School of Technology could remain where it is. Relocation would cost the District and its taxpayers over $4 million.

• The District should maintain ownership of the fields, marked B on the attached map to help address the recreational needs identified by a number of communities in the Cooperative.

• The District should dispose of the Annex and surrounding property marked C on the attached map. The School Board sees no need for this property and the appraised value of the site of approximately $1 million could bring some property tax relief.