By Kyle McCaskey

On Monday, the Derby Public Schools Board of Education will take action on a proposal to transfer ownership of its oldest high school building to the Derby Historical Society. 

The building, located at the corner of Market and Woodlawn, currently houses the city’s historical museum, but is still under the ownership of the school district. 

Previously, the school board asked for a reversion clause to be included in the agreement, which would transfer ownership back to the district if the historical society ceased to exist in the future. After discussing the potential ramifications of a clause, however, Director of Operations Tom Snodgrass recommended the clause not be included.

“It sounds good, but the negative side is we’d be saddled with a building that has been sitting there for any number of years and that we had no control of,” he said. “It’s not that it’s completely impossible – it’s extremely complicated.”

If the district took back ownership of the property, it would bear the costs of demolition. Because of asbestos in the building, that process could cost the district a substantial amount.

“It’s not a feasible option,” Snodgrass said.

Proposals in the district’s upcoming bond issue call for the demolition of the Sixth Grade Center, central kitchen and other buildings that surround the historical society building. Had the historical society not asked for the transfer of ownership, the old high school building would have been considered for demolition, as well.

Language in the agreement would state that should any damage to the museum lot occur in the demolition process, the district would not bear the responsibility. Snodgrass said the demolition contractors are “pretty darn good” at their jobs, and expects that process would go smoothly.

“We’re going to do everything we can to keep the historical society from bearing any financial burden. My confidence is high that they will not,” Snodgrass said. 

Snodgrass said it will likely be a couple of years before any buildings are torn down.

“The answer to all great questions is, ‘it depends,’” he said. “If the bond issue passes on April 3, then following the timeline, I would say that in approximately 2-1/2 years from that time, the Sixth Grade Center would be in a position where it could be empty.”

Water and electric rates are still tabbed to the district. If the transfer of ownership is approved, Snodgrass would transfer the usage costs to the historical society. If the bond proposal passes and the buildings surrounding the museum are knocked down, the historical society would receive its own meters.