PEABODY — It’s now a little easier to take care of school business if you live or work near the city center.
Last week, the school administration completed its move from the Kiley School to new office space the city is leasing at 27 Lowell St. The move clears the way for a possible renovation project at the Kiley which would open it up for classroom space.
“They are open for business and in full swing,” said Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr. “There are 16 full-time employees there now, and the special education (staff) have moved to the West Elementary School. I like having a centralized government.”
Having the office for the superintendent, assistant superintendent, finance director and other administrators downtown puts them closer to a greater number of students and families and should help spur local businesses, the mayor has said.
The 6,000 square feet of office space on Lowell Street is owned by Luciano Dinis of Peabody. The rent for the first year of the lease, according to the agreement with the city, is $6,000 per month. That rate rises to $6,500 per month in July of 2018, and $7,000 per month in July of 2019.
The majority of the lease costs will be offset by energy saving costs at the Kiley School, according to Bettencourt. The city currently spends about $90,000 per year on utilities at the Kiley.
The future of the Kiley School, which was unoccupied with the exception of the district administrative offices, could be decided in the next several weeks, according to the mayor.
In the spring, the city applied to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for the renovation of the Kiley School. If the MSBA gives the OK, the state could reimburse up to 56 percent of the potential $15 million in renovations needed to bring the school back online as classroom space.
Using the Kiley School for some special education and early childhood education programs would free up space at other elementary schools in the district and help ease overcrowding, according to Bettencourt.
If the reimbursement is not approved by the MSBA, school and city officials could be faced with larger redistricting issues.
“After we hear from the MSBA, we will be able to make a decision for the future,” said Bettencourt.
