WEST PARIS — While the town considers whether to take ownership of the former Agnes Gray Elementary School, residents want to know what would be done with the building. In simple terms: Is the building going to be a bigger burden than it’s worth?

More than 50 residents convened at West Paris’ meeting room at 25 Kingsbury St. Thursday to discuss whether taking ownership of the late-1800s school closed by Maine School Administrative District 17 in Paris is in the town’s best interest.

A special town meeting to vote on the matter will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 8 at Ring-McKeen American Legion Post 151 on Church Street.

The school has been unoccupied since the district closed it in February 2024, after an architectural survey concluded it had too many structural and system risks for students and staff to enter. 

One year ago SAD 17 directors voted to file with the Maine Department of Education to permanently close the school at 170 Main St. West Paris students from kindergarten to grade 6 attend classes at Paris Elementary School. Prekindergarten students attend Legion Memorial School on Kingsbury Street in West Paris.

The majority of residents spoke of the 6-acre property as an asset for West Paris and pointed to old school buildings in other towns — including the former Fox School in South Paris — that were saved to the benefit of the community.

However, several said the choice is to either add to taxpayers’ burden (keeping it) or generate future tax revenue (if SAD 17 sells it).

Some speakers said they are uncomfortable voting on the property’s future without knowing the town’s vision for it or how much it will cost taxpayers to rehabilitate.

Agnes Gray school’s former PTO group, known as the Bobcat Committee, has shifted its mission from fundraising in support of the school to fundraising in support of the property. 

It is reorganizing as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to enable the organization to apply for grants to mitigate the building’s much-needed repairs and redevelopment.

The gymnasium, which was built in 1938 as a Works Progress Administration project during the Great Depression, is listed as a historically significant building.

The main part of the school dates to 1895 and is also eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Both designations make it possible to receive federal grants for historic preservation.

If the property is owned by West Paris, the Bobcat Committee will be able to apply for dozens of other grants, including community development block grants.

Members of the Bobcat Committee said their mission is to save the integrity of the school and fundraise to mitigate expenses that would otherwise fall to taxpayers. 

Many who spoke said they are cautious about relying on a community group that could end up managing and making decisions about a town property. But members of the Bobcat Committee said the potential uses they brought up during the hearing are suggestions, not vetted plans.

“What standing does the Bobcat Committee have with the town?” former school director Dale Piirainen indicated he is likely to vote against keeping it as town property. “They started to find ways to keep the school open and it didn’t turn out the way they wanted it to. Now they’re trying to influence the town into making a decision to accept the building and property.”

Some, including Selectman Eli White, said if West Paris is the seller, the town will be able to influence how a future owner could change and use the village landmark.

Ideas brought up include a community or event center, but also selling it on the real estate market to generate municipal revenue.

Others countered that if SAD 17 sells it the income would be transferred to West Paris without the town having to do any work.

A few in favor of retaining the school building said SAD 17 could simply sell it for one dollar, because it will have no monetary or potential development interest — and West Paris would see no revenue at all.

“It’s an issue of control,” Wendy Newmeyer said. “It’s the heart of the community. We get one chance if we’re selling it because it could become something else down the line. But at least we would have that option.”