With the Scarborough Board of Education moving forward with a proposal to build a new intermediate and an addition to the middle school, board members feel ready to make a decision on the future of the Bessey School.
Chairman David Beneman said any decision the board makes regarding the property should be done after a joint meeting with the Town Council to make sure both groups are in favor of the school’s proposal for the other buildings.
If that is the case, Beneman said he would feel confident leaving that meeting with a resolution to transfer the property to the town, which is expected to then lease the property to the YMCA. Beneman also indicated the district would seek some sort of educational caveats from the YMCA for the land donation.
The YMCA has requested the town allow it to use the Bessey School property for its future Scarborough facility. Preliminary plans indicate the new facility would be built behind the Bessey School, which would itself be converted into senior housing.
The YMCA has met with the Town Council to review its preliminary plans and councilors seemed in favor of leasing the property. But the school district must first decide to give up the property before the council can take any action.
Board members Chris Brownsey and Dianne Messer said they felt comfortable moving ahead with the transfer. Messer said it was unlikely that the Bessey School would be used for any future school district purpose.
“That parcel of land isn’t big enough for our needs,” she said.
The board also held a brief discussion on the proposed senior center vote that will occur in November.
A group of Scarborough seniors are seeking $1.2 million for the construction of a 5,200-square-foot activity center at Memorial Park at Oak Hill. The building will be open to other community organizations.
While not specifically a school-related issue, Beneman said it was a “valuable project.”
He noted that some community groups like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have difficult finding meeting space and said the new building could fill that gap.
The school board does not normally take official position on non-school related issues, but Beneman said residents could feel confident that the board members are in support of the plan.
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