In what is being billed as a cost saving measure by officials, the Sheepscot Regional School Unit (RSU 12) is planning to purchase its administrative building on Rt. 17 in Whitefield. According to RSU 12 Supt. Greg Potter, the cost would be between $150,000 and $160,000 for the building, which currently houses all administrative staff for the school district.
“It’s a chance to save money and offers more flexibility for the long term,” said Potter.
The move comes after the building owners, Leon and Fay Emery, informed RSU officials of their plan to sell the property in June. According to Potter, RSU 12 currently pays a monthly rent of $1290.61 which would subsequently decrease to a $1000 monthly mortgage if the purchase price falls within an acceptable range for the school district. The appraised value of the structure is $156,500 and Potter anticipates, after the necessary public hearings, pursuing a 20-year financing plan to acquire the building. If a plan is not in place by June 30, administrators would be forced to vacate the premises and earnestly pursue a “Plan B,” said Potter.
“If this falls through, we are looking at alternatives with one possibility being another building close to the existing one,” he said.
The RSU 12 school district is comprised of Alna, Wiscasset, Westport Island, Chelsea, Palermo, Windsor, Somerville and Whitefield. The school district also maintains a separate building in Windsor that houses a special education office and alternative education program.
The purchase of the building in Whitefield could potentially pave the way for consolidation of the two offices and provide additional savings to the school district.
“There is a public process involved but if all goes smooth, we anticipate having some assurances by June,” said Potter.