By STEPHEN BARTLETT
Staff Writer
November 30, 2008 04:08 am
—
DANNEMORA — Saranac Central School officials need to do something with the former elementary buildings still in their possession.
The district has been pondering the fate of the structures in Dannemora and Cadyville that ceased being schools about three years ago.
The School Board could make a decision at Monday evening's School Board meeting.
"It's been going back and forth, and the superintendent has made some recommendations," Saranac School Board President Jules LaPoint said. "We will discuss the matter."
Faced with declining enrollment and soaring costs, Saranac school officials initially considered closing Dannemora Elementary School. But that idea was briefly abandoned in 2004 when district residents resoundingly opposed the move.
Instead, more than 150 students in grades K-6 were transferred during the 2004-05 school year to equalize enrollment at the school district's four elementary buildings in Morrisonville, Dannemora, Cadyville and Saranac. The district also eliminated a fifth-grade class at Morrisonville and moved more students.
Still faced with the same enrollment projections and armed with a desire to prevent more student transfers from larger elementary buildings in Saranac and Morrisonville to the smaller ones in Dannemora and Cadyville and further frustrate parents, officials again considered closing one or both of the smaller schools. The district also wanted to maximize the use of the schools that would remain open. In December 2005, the Board opted to close both smaller buildings and open a middle school at the junior high in Saranac.
The decision cost some jobs and upset residents with ties to the buildings in Cadyville and Dannemora who didn't want to lose their community schools.
The School Board's decision took effect July 1, 2006.
"I think we are in our third year with the buildings and we haven't moved with any kind of plans for the buildings in Dannemora and Cadyville," LaPoint said.
He didn't know the yearly cost of continuing to own the empty schools, but said the numbers vary depending on fuel costs and maintenance. That information will be available at Monday evening's School Board meeting.
Something needs to be done with them though, and those possibilities will be discussed and perhaps decided upon Monday night.
"We are looking at the best interests of taxpayers and what future needs might entail for us," LaPoint said.
What exactly becomes of the buildings is uncertain at this point, but possibilities include leasing the structures, selling them or both.
"It is a board decision," LaPoint said.
The School District cannot sell the buildings within the first five years of them being closed without voter approval.
"At this point we are not really sure which direction we are going to go, but we need to do something with the buildings," LaPoint said. "We are going to try and get some forward movement Monday night."
E-mail Stephen Bartlett at: sbartlett@pressrepublican.com
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.