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Cheshire is already fielding inquiries about leasing the soon-to-close elementary school.

Two Groups Interested In Leasing Cheshire School

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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CHESHIRE, Mass. — Two different educational organizations have reached out to the Selectmen about leasing Cheshire Elementary School.
 
Town Administrator Mark Webber told the Selectmen last week that the entities had asked through the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District about possibly using the school that is slated to close next school year. 
 
"They asked that I not name them because you have been familiar with them," Webber said. "Before I get back to them, I would just like some direction from the board ... they are looking at other properties and would like to know fairly soon."  
 
The Selectmen were interested in the proposition, however, wanted more information.
 
"I need to know who they are and what they want to do before I say yes," Selectwoman Carol Francesconi said. 
 
Selectman Edmund St. John IV had similar concerns and added that it may be too soon to lease the building.
 
"This is really putting the cart before the horse because we haven't even organized a reuse committee and we don't know how much of the building they want to use and their needs," he said. "Does it consider what we may want to do with the building?" 
 
St. John added that he wasn't sure if there was a request for proposal process the town legally had to go through and he didn't want to promise the building to someone when there are efforts in town to reopen the school.
 
Selectman Robert Ciskowski said he was against leasing the building at this time because he felt there were too many unknowns. He said he feared it would end up costing the town money. 
 
"I just have too many questions," he said. "The costs just scare me and I don't want to go in blind."
 
Webber said one of the interested parties is looking for a one- to two-year lease while the other wants a more long-term lease. He said he thought both were interested in using the older section of the building.
 
"In the big picture, it will buy you that little bit of breathing room you can catch your breath without it being completely empty," he said. "One way or the other, the building is going to be mostly empty unless the stars align."
 
Webber added that if the building is occupied it will cost less to insure.
 
He said the school district is still interested in using the building as central office. Even though Adams has offered space in town, Webber said Superintendent Robert Putnam asked if the town was interested in renegotiating the lease.
 
The Selectmen were in favor of having the central office in the building and asked Webber to start the negotiation.
 
Ciskowski said it may be better if a possible tenant was in the new section near the central office so only part of the building would need to be heated and operational. 
 
St. John said he was unsettled that the school district was bringing in possible tenant and wished they asked the town before they started seeking them out.
 
"They are acting like some kind of agent on behalf of the town ... we weren't included in the process," he said. "It's like owning a building and having your tenant show it to someone else."
 
Webber suggested that the school district was trying to "soften the blow" of closing the school.
 
In other business, Webber said the Department of Housing and Community Development said a portion of the town's Housing Rehabilitation Grant Application was missing and asked that the selectmen's secretary resend it.
 
He said it was good news
 
"It sounded like good news if they didn't care they wouldn't have ask for a missing document," he said. "They would have tossed it out so this is probably going to happen." 

Tags: cheshire school,   leasing,   school reuse,   

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Hoosac Valley High School to Stage 'Suessical'

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Hoosac Valley High School will showcase their rendition of "Suessical," a musical based on the tales of Dr. Seuss by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
 
The performances are scheduled for Friday, March 15 at 7 pm, and Saturday, March 16 at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online via the provided link. Prices are $8 for students and $10 for adults.
 
Directed by Rebecca Koczela and Amanda Watroba, the production features around 50 students participating as actors, pit band musicians, and backstage and tech crews. Notably, this year's cast includes several middle school students who have joined the high school production, marking their first experience performing on stage.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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