This story by Tracy Brannstrom first published On the Bridge on November 11

After several months of discussion, board members of Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools (MRPS) will vote on whether to keep the Roxbury Village School for educational programs or propose a $1 sale of the building to the town of Roxbury. The board of directors will put this to a vote at its meeting on November 20.

The Roxbury school was closed last fall and remained mostly unused; The district paid $145,000 to maintain the school and run an after-school program on part of it. The building also serves as Roxbury City Hall.

The school district recently distributed a survey among Montpelier and Roxbury residents to better understand what community members want to see happen in the building. Although only 293 people responded, the majority said they wanted the district to propose selling the building to the town to save money for the district, as well as potentially lower taxes and provide a community space for Roxbury residents.

The survey also included two options for district ownership; these include using the building for a variety of educational purposes (which the board has discussed in depth at recent board meetings) or simply continuing to operate a part-time after-school enrichment program in the building.
MRPS Superintendent Libby Bonesteel said all three options are still on the table.

Under the merger agreement, the school district can keep the building if it determines a financially viable educational use. If he cannot, he must offer it to Roxbury for $1; this is the same amount the district paid the village of Roxbury for the building during the 2017-18 merger of the Roxbury School District and Montpelier School District under Act 46.

The Roxbury board of selectmen said at its Nov. 4 meeting that if the town receives a proposal, it will present the decision to voters on Town Meeting Day in March.

The real estate transaction between the school district and the town of Roxbury will take some time, and the district will likely need to budget for maintenance of the building next year, Bonesteel’s board of directors said at its Nov. 6 meeting.

The board will vote on how to proceed at a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Montpelier High School, as well as virtually.