The Little Falls School in Gorham has no shortage of suitors, with the recreation, school and fire departments all vying to use the school.
The school department, which now has possession of the buidling, would like to hang on to it to use it as school again at some point in the future. However, the recreation department is now using it, and the fire department would like to use it to replace the South Windham Fire Station, which is shared by Gorham and Windham.
A majority of Gorham town councilors voted to ask the school department to turn the building over to the town. The measure passed by only a slim margin, 3-2, with councilors Phil Dugas and Calvin Hamblen opposed. With two councilors absent – Mike Phinney and Jane Willett – the council did not have enough votes to pass the measure.
“I look at it as a big asset to the town,” said Councilor Matt Robinson, who favored its return to the town.
The Little Falls School was built a half century ago as an elementary school, replacing the Fred Robie School. In later years, it served as a kindergarten. Then, it housed sixth-grade students in the fall of 2003 until the new middle school opened in October.
The Gorham Recreation Department has been utilizing the vacant school for a before-and-after school care and summer camp program. Cindy Hazelton, recreation director, said the department’s programs are serving 50 children daily. “We have a presence there 52 weeks,” Hazelton said.
But the recreation program could lose the space as other needs multiply in Gorham. “We’ll have to nail down options, if the Little Falls School goes away,” Hazelton said. “Everyone’s in line.”
There are several potential uses for the school. The school department has been using Little Falls School to alleviate tight storage space and it’s still being eyed as a school for the future.
Jim Hager, chairman of the school committee, told the council last week that the school department could utilize it as a regional school. He said Gorham belongs to the Sebago Alliance (Gorham, Windham, Raymond, SAD 6 and Westbrook), which could make use of Little Falls School in a consolidation of services.
Besides that, Little Falls School could revert to a school on another temporary basis. Gorham’s overcrowded White Rock School is ranked high on a state list for help, but it hasn’t been determined whether White Rock would be rehabbed or replaced and either option could be years away.
A recent study of Gorham’s Fire Department recommended that the South Windham Fire Station, which Gorham shares with Windham, be replaced. The study listed the possibility of converting Little Falls School into a fire station as an option along with building new.
Gorham Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre said Little Falls School could be a feasible site for a fire station. Lefebvre said the school’s gym could be converted into one or two bays for fire trucks, and classrooms could be utilized for training. He said the site afforded ample parking.
Rising real estates prices also figure into the value of converting Little Falls School for fire department use. “You wouldn’t be purchasing land, a prime commodity in Gorham today,” Lefebvre said.
Daniel Minchev, a homeowner across Acorn Street from the school, said he would welcome a police station, fire station or a school because those options would “dramatically” slow traffic. He has two children and worries about present speeding by motorists using Acorn Street as a shortcut between Gray and Mosher roads.
Any decision to change the future of Little Falls School would be in the hands of the council. Town Councilor Burleigh Loveitt said at the council meeting that the building was in flux. He said the council has never had “particular plans” for the school, but it could come up with some.
Gorham Town Manager David Cole doesn’t believe the failed agenda item asking the school department to return the building would reappear in the near future. “I don’t expect it to come up right away,” Cole said.
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