HARPSWELL

Harpswell Coastal Academy has a signed one-year, $20,000 lease agreement with the town for the use of the former West Harpswell School.

The new public charter school opens its doors in September.

Formerly owned by School Administrative District 75, West Harpswell School closed in June 2011 because of dropping enrollment and declining resources. The town then acquired the school and began looking for uses for the 17,000-square-foot building, such as a business center or to develop the property as housing for seniors and working families.

Six months after closing, Ash Point Community Library opened in the vacant building, in March 2012.

Kristi Eiane, Harpswell’s town administrator, said the three-member Board of Selectmen voted unanimously July 11 in favor of the proposed one-year lease agreement, stretching from July 1 of this year to June 30, 2014 with occupancy to start Aug. 15.

The town will receive $20,000 this year, with payments of $2,000 due monthly over the 10-month period.

The town has agreed to use the rent money to cover the cost of stipulated improvements: air-seal windows and doors estimated at $8,800, recaulking of masonry estimated at $4,600, and $6,500 in other work.

The town also will establish a reserve account in the amount of $9,400 to remediate any issues with the gymnasium floor.

Before occupying the building, the academy will complete fire alarm, life safety and accessibility improvements at an estimated cost of $5,100. The town will have completed general heating and ventilation adjustments to the building for an estimated $5,900.

Eiane said the town retains the right to use the building for town-related activities provided they do not interfere with use of the academy.

Included in the lease agreement is an opportunity for the academy to purchase the building, erected in 1964. The agreement restricts the town from offering the property to anyone other than Harpswell Coastal Academy and requires both parties to negotiate a contract by Dec. 31. Sale of the building would then be approved at town meeting.

Eiane said she got the sense selectmen are pleased to be able to enter into the lease agreement for one year.

“More of the school will be used and the town will be receiving some lease payments that it will use to improve its property,” she said.

Harpswell Coastal Academy Head of School John D’Anieri said Wednesday the school’s board feels “very positive” about the collaboration with the town.

The fact that the lease agreement is for one year instead of three years gives both parties more time to work out a potential longerterm deal, “and we’re just pleased as punch,” he said.

The lease talks “played out in a way that I think keeps all of the options open and makes the most sense,” D’Anieri said.

Harpswell Coastal Academy will need to find a longterm permanent home and must do so within three years, per its strategic plan submitted to the Maine Charter School Commission, D’Anieri said.

D’Anieri said Harpswell Coastal Academy is “eager” to have Ash Point Community Library stay in the building, adding the “general idea to have a functioning library share space with a school is a good idea.”

He also sees the school still used for town recreation uses such as summer camp activities and open gym, as well as use by other community groups given the school’s community focus.

When conflicting uses arise, “we’ll work through them,” he said.