LEYDEN — The town will receive $11,300 from the Pioneer Valley Regional School District as compensation related to the closure of Pearl Rhodes Elementary School.
The payment, expected by Nov. 15, is the result of an agreement between Leyden and the school district, which was unanimously approved during a School Committee meeting last week.
“We’ve been working on this intergovernment agreement with the district for a few months,” Leyden Selectboard Chair Jeff Neipp said at the meeting.
According to the agreement, the $11,300 payment — 50 percent of the prior year’s operating expense for the school — will be paid to offset the cost of maintaining the building and grounds, as well as insuring the now shuttered school, which saw its final day of classes in June. Additionally, Leyden is required to occupy no less than 51 percent of the building for municipal purposes — including but not limited to town office and meeting space — to avoid increased insurance costs.
“Originally, for our insurance we were going to have to show some sort of proof that the building was being occupied,” Neipp said ahead of the Oct. 10 vote. “We’re moving forward with putting the building back into operation and we need the document.”
Leyden officials also agreed to refrain from filing any action against the school district based on its decision to discontinue use of Pearl Rhodes. Municipal Assistant Michelle Giarusso said the school district discontinued its utilities for the elementary school and she had to call Eversource, Verizon and other companies to reestablish themselves as customers.
Furthermore, some of the money from the agreement will offset the costs of setting up these utilities and additional internet improvements. Being a one-time payment, Leyden will have to absorb the utility and operating costs going forward.
With town officials looking to transfer office space to the Pearl Rhodes building, which has better heat for the winter months than Town Hall, Giarusso said heating costs will hopefully go down and lead to some additional savings.
Neipp emphasized his hope that school district meetings might still be held in Leyden occasionally.
“I hope the committee would reconsider, and come back to Leyden once a year for a meeting, or whatever it is,” Neipp said. “We will have the school available to have a meeting easily, or you could use the Town Hall. We’re still part of the district, so I would hope the School Committee will consider that.”
School Committee Chair Kristen Gonzalez was receptive to the invitation, saying that while Pearl Rhodes is not being used, Leyden is still a crucial part of the district and the committee should continue to meet at various locations.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 264.