Montpelier Roxbury School Board to Vote on Sale of Roxbury Village School
ROXBURY, Vt. — The Montpelier Roxbury School Board is set to vote this Wednesday on the potential sale of the Roxbury Village School back to the Town of Roxbury. The school building was closed earlier this year as part of budget reduction efforts, following a failed budget vote—reflective of challenges faced by nearly a third of Vermont schools.
Since its closure, the Roxbury Village School has hosted an afterschool program, while students have been bussed to Union Elementary School, saving the district approximately $1.5 million. As outlined in a merger agreement from 2018, the school board must decide on the sale, with Superintendent Libby Bonesteel clarifying that the board will determine whether to proceed, as the stipulations on closure have changed after four years.
If approved, the sale price for the building will be just $1. “We bought the building for a dollar, so we will offer the building back to Roxbury for a dollar,” Bonesteel stated.
In preparation for this decision, the district conducted a public engagement process, including a survey exploring community preferences for the fate of the school. Three options were presented: retaining ownership for educational programming, continuing the afterschool program with rental options, or selling it for a dollar—the latter being the most popular among respondents, with approximately 265 votes collected.
The Roxbury selectboard recently reported local interest in utilizing the building for various purposes, including office space, daycare, or a private school. The outcome of Wednesday’s vote could set the direction for the future use of the building. The board meeting will convene at 6:30 p.m. at Montpelier High School, where community members are encouraged to participate.
Source
Photo credit www.mynbc5.com
