**Swampscott Officials Discuss Memorandum of Use for Clarke Elementary School**
During a joint meeting on Wednesday evening, the Swampscott Select Board, Finance Committee, and School Committee came together to discuss the Memorandum of Use (MOU) concerning the Recreation Department’s use of the Clarke Elementary School building.
Last October, the Select Board and School Committee approved a one-year MOU between Swampscott Public Schools and the Town. This agreement allowed the Recreation Department to utilize the Clarke School building for its programs and activities.
Select Board member David Grishman raised a question regarding the execution of the MOU. He noted that most of the Town’s MOUs are typically signed by the town administrator and the superintendent of schools. However, in this instance, the chairs of the Select Board and School Committee executed the agreement. Grishman asked if there was a specific reason for this.
Town Administrator Nick Connors explained, “It’s related to property, and sort of the disposition of the property and the use of it. It’s not something that I can sign; the leases of property go through you all (the Select Board).”
Grishman responded that, according to the Town Charter, he believed the town administrator would execute such documents once approved by the Select Board. Connors replied, “That was a conversation I had with KP Law, and it would ultimately come before the Select Board because it was the disposition of property, and that’s not something that involved me in the charter.”
School Committee Vice Chair Glenn Paster added that his understanding was the school building is owned by the school district, not the superintendent, which factored into why the agreement was signed by the committee chairs.
During the discussion, Finance Committee Chair Eric Hartmann inquired about the responsibility for maintenance costs related to the building. The MOU states that “The district will maintain existing building systems,” and Hartmann sought clarification on how costs would be managed.
Connors responded that initial discussions suggested no major maintenance issues were anticipated within the one-year period covered by the MOU. “In [Facilities Director] Max [Kasper’s] opinion at the time, we didn’t have an immediate need. Things were not near the end of a useful life in a way that we were in danger of doing that one-year agreement,” Connors said.
Paster emphasized the importance of revisiting these issues when the Town considers renewing the MOU next year. “What happens, God forbid, if a boiler explodes? There’s only so much money to go around. We don’t want surprises on anyone’s side, so I think when we go to do this next year, we’ll have to make it much more broad and definitive on who pays for what. As you guys plan the budget, that contingency may have to be built in on all sides,” he said.
Connors described the current MOU as a “prove it” agreement—if the Recreation Department’s use of the space does not work out, they would not continue its operation beyond the agreement period.
Select Board member MaryEllen Fletcher asked if the schools have decided whether they want to keep the Clarke School building long-term. Paster replied that he was unsure, but indicated that much depends on decisions about the middle school.
Superintendent of Schools Jason Calichman explained, “I think a lot of that will be determined by what happens with the middle school. Hopefully, in the next few months, we know where everybody lies on that, and I think that will really be the driving force.”
Paster agreed wholeheartedly with Calichman’s comments, underscoring the importance of forthcoming decisions on the Town’s school facilities.
https://itemlive.com/2026/01/21/swampscott-discusses-use-of-clarke-school-building/
