This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Pierson Re-Use Committee Named, New Hurdle Discovered

The committee tasked with determining the next use for the Pierson School has been selected by the Board of Selectmen (BOS), and it members learned that the already-difficult task of finding an acceptable solution for the beloved building just got a little more challenging.

In November 2018, after being presented the results of a facility needs study, the Board of Education voted to close the Pierson school that serves grades 4 and 5. The committee cited rising costs and declining enrollment as reasons to close the school. As a result of the move, grade 4 will go to the Lewin Joel School (which currently serves pre-K to grade 3 students) and grade 5 will go to the Jared Eliot Middle School (now serving grades 6 to 8). The changes will go into effect during the 2019-’20 school year.

At the May 22 meeting, the BOS appointed eight people the Pierson Future Use Committee: Mike Hornyak, First Selectman Christine Goupil, Selectman Carol Walter, John Allen, Mary Ellen Dahlgren, Don Hansen, Christy Pontillo, and Heidi Hayes. All members were approved unanimously by the BOS.

However, a new wrinkle was added to the mystery of what to do with the school after it is tuned over to town control.

Goupil said that during investigations into the school and a review of the history of the building, the town discovered that the deed for the sale of the building from the Trustees of the Morgan Fund to the Town of Clinton in 1953 states that the premises must always be used for the education interests of the residents.

Goupil said that the BOS has been in contact with the office of the state’s attorney general about possibly changing that provision, and was advised the office was supportive of the town’s position. However, Goupil said the town was advised that the office believes that any net profits from a sale of the property would be required to go to the Morgan School Fund.

For the steps that will take place at the school. Goupil said that a combination of surveying, land use and zoning configurations, marketing studies, and public outreach to see what people want in that space will be conducted.

Control of Pierson will be turned over to the town once the building is no longer needed for educational purposes, which is scheduled to occur in November. Informal discussion what to do with the property have included commercial uses, housing, and moving the library to that location along with selling the current library location.