Clarksburg Researching Relocation of VFW for Preschool
 The town is exploring the possibility of moving the VFW across the street to the Town Hall property to use as a preschool. |
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town and school officials are proposing to move the VFW Post and use it as a preschool.
The relocation would preserve the building and allow it to continue as a Veterans of Foreign Wars post.
"It's in good condition," said Town Administrator Carl McKinney. "Repurposing it is highly desirable and I think we can meet a lot of the community's needs.
"It seems like a win, win, win."
Last year's town meeting had voted funding for a feasibility study of placing a preschool at Town Hall but the estimated cost of $265,000 put the project on hold.
In April, the School Committee explored the possibility of buying a used modular classroom but that proposal, too, was sidelined as the town struggled through its financial issues.
Jeffrey Levanos, chairman of the School Committee and Selectmen, said both boards endorsed the relocation project at their meetings last week.
"It seems a viable solution," he said, but added the total costs and town meeting would determine its potential.
Superintendent of Schools Jonathan Lev agreed.
"The preschool would become the first floor and the the VFW would use the upstairs," he said. "The kids would not be in the same area as the VFW."
The relocated building would also be near the former playing field for recess.
"It has the additional benefit of being right next to the police station," McKinney said. "It's a central location, plenty of parking and a great place for the kids."
He said the cost to move the building across the street to the north side of Town Hall has been estimated at $42,500. He is currently getting estimates for a new foundation, to hook the utilities and to make what will be ground floor into the preschool.
"If the estimates are in line with what we're thinking, I'm thinking in line with $100,000 to $120,000," McKinney said.
The building is listed for $75,000 but McKinney said he is in talks with the VFW about acquiring it and leasing it back to the post with a 99-year lease.
He hoped to have some solid figures to present to town meeting, as well as funding sources.
"We have the school stabilization fund," Lev said. "We need to keep a good amount in there in case we need a furnace."
The stabilization fund is expected to be tapped for a feasibility for renovations at Clarksburg. Lev said the school district would know next month if it was invited into the Massachusetts School Building Authority program.
But he and Levanos did not think that would happen soon. Levanos said an MSBA group had toured the school earlier this year. "There didn't seem to be any urgency," he said.
The idea to use the VFW arose from conversations McKinney had with post members. The building has been for sale for some time but its location is problematic — on .1 acres and with no parking.
Built in 1880, it was originally the Union Church and later became a club house before the VFW bought it.
McKinney sees the proposal as a way to save a historic building, help out the VFW, which has done a lot for the community, and create a preschool the community wants.
"This would seem to solve a lot of our problems," he said. "We're a small community but we certainly have a big interest in preserving our past.
"As long as we can make the numbers work."
Tags: big move, church reuse, preschool, VFW,
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