Shanley: Town Doesn't Have 'Any Choice' in Assuming Control of Nathan Hale School

The Board of Education voted earlier this week to formally relinquish control of the former Nathan Hale Elementary School building to the town of Manchester, because it said it could not afford the estimated $154,000 annually for basic maintenance of the building. 

The town has been using the cafeteria and gymnasium of the building for recreation activities, according to Interim Superintendent Richard Kisiel. And now, thanks to the school board's decision, will assume ownership and responsibility for the entirety of the former Spruce Street school, which was built in 1921 and still contains many of its original systems. The school board voted to close the school last year because it did not have the several million dollars it was estimated would be required to repair the building's aging heat piping and boiler system. 

"We don't have any choice in the matter," General Manager Scott Shanley told Patch earlier this week when asked about Nathan Hale. 

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The school board considered charging the town "rent" for its use of the building, but Kisiel told the board Monday night that Shanley indicated to him that the Board of Directors would not be receptive of that arrangement. 

Shanley said the cost to the town to maintain the building would be a "significant expense" that will have to be included in future town budgets, but noted that he believe sections of the building could be closed off and the estimated $154,000 figure quoted by Kisiel for annual upkeep could be reduced. 

Shanley said "there have been some ideas floated about" as to future use of the building, but nothing concrete has been decided upon for its use. 

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