Properties committee weighs leases, sales and repurposing as enrollment declines

A properties analysis committee convened by the Three Village Central School District reported a range of options Wednesday for managing district-owned real estate amid declining enrollment, including leases, selective sales and repurposing buildings for programs such as a school for the arts.

Committee member Mr. Saint Germain — who presented the group's findings — said the committee met three times with community members drawn from civic groups, realtors, engineers and other stakeholders and that no single consensus emerged. "After 3 meetings, there was no clear consensus on any of it. So we all kinda made our suggestions and here's what they are," Saint Germain said. Recommendations included renting available space at the North Country administration building, selling a residentially zoned parcel on Nichols Road, repurposing a district building for an arts school and consolidating elementary schools if enrollment continues to drop.

Superintendent Dr. Scanlon and other officials described legal and practical limits on options. The Hawkins Road property is zoned for educational use and would revert to the town if sold for non-educational purposes; a 50-acre parcel near Mount is preserved by covenant for school use; and moving district computer hardware could cost more than $1 million, limiting options to lease rather than immediately vacate some sites.

Scanlon told trustees that Stony Brook School has expressed interest in renting eight classrooms and five offices at the North Country building for the 2026-27 school year; if completed the agreement would avoid displacing neighborhood schools by repurposing underused administration space. "We presented them with a proposal ... They're actually looking to rent 8 classrooms and 5 offices here at North Country," Scanlon said. He added that administration offices would relocate if a lease is finalized.

Board members and committee participants discussed selling properties "as is" to avoid the district assuming subdivision or site-plan risks, and noted that selling now could yield lower prices because buyers will absorb planning costs. The committee also cautioned that sales may not close at top market value and suggested retaining properties where feasible to preserve future instructional flexibility.