Central Valley To Consider Remington School Building Future

The Central Valley School District is looking into the future of the former Remington Elementary School.

Herkimer BOCES currently rents the building, primarily to house its Pathways Academy, but BOCES officials have expressed interest in purchasing the property.

Central Valley school board members want to weigh all factors before making any decision.

The first step will be to create an advisory committee of community members, school employees, school administrators and board of education members.

The Advisory Committee will meet once in June and once in July, reporting to the board after each meeting. The board will then consider those reports before considering a next step.

"One concern is that many of our staff and former Remington students have a strong attachment to the school," said School Superintendent Jeremy Rich. "They spent years working or learning in that building, so it comes as no surprise that they have great memories. As we move forward, we want to be sensitive to those feelings. School officials have spent years looking at different options, but the board wants community members to weigh in."

Selling the building would require two separate votes. Central Valley residents would first vote on a referendum to sell the building. They would vote a second time with residents of all Herkimer BOCES school districts on a referendum authorizing BOCES to purchase the building.

The process stops if the board decides not to sell or if voters reject either referendum.