SAU 8 Concord School District To Form Eastman Elementary School Sale Committee

CONCORD, NH — Do you have real estate sales experience?

Do you have a business background that has developed your bargaining skills and enabled you to secure the best deal for your clients?

Do you live in the Concord School District?

The SAU 8 board of education may need to hear from you soon.

The board will soon be forming a steering committee of school board members, residents, and professionals to oversee the sale of the former Eastman Elementary School on Shawmut Street, according to interim Superintendent Tim Herbert. In a superintendent’s update to parents, which included important future dates and snow-cancellation info (Herbert will continue the tradition of canceling or delaying school at 5:30 a.m., not the night before), it was mentioned that a request for members will be sent out in early December.

The decision to sell the property was approved by voters earlier this month by a nearly four-to-one margin — despite consternation by the creators of a warrant article who created the sale warrant article. They, and most voters and supporters of the 2023 warrant article, believed the intent of the amendment would require the board to seek voter approval for proposals when selling the land, similar to the state’s town meeting form of government. However, it was not worded that way.

Proceeds from the sale will go to the district’s facilities and renovation trust fund, “which would be used to reduce the tax impact of the middle school project,” Herbert said.

The middle school project is estimated to have a price tag of around $155 million, with a total cost, including interest, of between $220 million and $285 million, depending on how much reserves are used and what the interest rate is.

The school, located on Shawmut Street near Exit 16 in East Concord, was an elementary school up until 2013, when the $90.8 million elementary school consolidation project was completed. It features a school building approximately 60 years old, situated on about 4.6 acres in a residential neighborhood.

The assessed value of the land and building, as listed by the city of Concord, is approximately $402,000. However, Michael Castagna of Castagna Consulting Group, who was hired about 14 years ago to devise ideas for selling the district’s excess holdings, stated in 2012 the property would be worth significantly more than that.

Castagna had two potential buyers interested in building housing or assisted living on the parcel, with approximately 50 to 60 units. However, neighbors at the time were not too keen on the idea. He also proposed dorms for NHTI, Concord’s community college, or housing for the New Hampshire National Guard.

The Boys and Girls Club is currently renting the building for its Eastman Early Learning Center.

McAuliffe Auditorium Repairs

Herbert also noted the Christa McAuliffe Auditorium at Concord High School had been closed to replace the ceiling after “a small piece of the ceiling fell.” Engineers were brought in to evaluate the entire ceiling, and they found it needed to be replaced.

Cost estimates are around $750,000. Work is expected to be done by February. Herbert said the district was working with its insurance company on coverage.

“We are doing everything we can to minimize disruption to classes and student programs,” he said.

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