Rochester High School Adaptive Reuse FAQs
1. Why should the Town of Rochester take ownership?
The building was built in Rochester for use as a high school to serve the larger Quintown community. It was voted for and bonded by the taxpayers of Rochester. With no immediate use by the school district, it creates a dilemma for our Unified district. A YES vote means the Select Board and/or the taxpayers of Rochester make the decision and retain control of the decision.
2. What are the choices if the Town does not buy the building?
The ownership remains with the Unified School District. Likely it will be mothballed since the school district and taxpayers cannot afford to upgrade and maintain it.
3. How much will it cost the Town to buy the building?
Referencing language in the school merger agreement, the cost to the Town will be $1.00.
4. What will happen if the Town acquires the building?
If the taxpayers of Rochester vote to acquire the building, the Select Board has within its power to decide what will happen. They can unilaterally decide, or ask the voters to help with a final solution.
5. What is Valley Hub, Inc. (VHI)?
VHI is a 501c3 (non-profit) corporation with a mission to work for the vitality and sustainability of the Rochester area community. Their current project is to support the adaptive reuse of the high school building as a self-sustaining community resource. It will house a variety of community services, including childcare, adult and youth education, healthcare services, senior services, arts programs, a maker space, recreation and commercial rentals.
6. Who are the people involved with the VHI?
The all-volunteer VHI Board is composed primarily of Rochester residents who have been serving as members of the Rochester High School Repurposing Committee. More detailed information about the Board members can be found on the VHI website.
7. How will VHI work with the Town?
The VHI and the Select Board are currently working to construct a management agreement that will be implemented when a yes decision is made to proceed with the adaptive reuse of the building.
8. What is the management agreement?
It is the document referenced above that will be available to all voters to read and question before a binding vote is taken.
9. What does the agreement say?
This agreement would stipulate the obligations and rights of both parties, i.e. the Town as owner and the VHI as manager.
10. Who is providing the funds for this project?
Funds to repurpose the building are being obtained from government grants, foundations, and private donors. A successful Senator Sanders' Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) earmark for this project passed in March 2024, in the amount of $2,329,000 through the USDA Community Facilities account.
These funds are allocated towards Phase 1 Construction of the project to upgrade the building to meet community-identified needs. This money is lost to the Town with a NO vote.
Funds to support the expected operating deficit during project startup would be requested from the Town of Rochester budget each year for the first 2 to 5 years. This amount is expected to be less than the $94,000 per year 30-year obligation if the Select Board chooses the demolition option.
11. Does VHI as a nonprofit mean that future tenants will pay no rent?
All tenants (long or short-term) community based and/or commercial will have a signed lease specifying their fiduciary obligation to the VHI and Town. There are already Memorandums of Understanding signed by eight (8) prospective tenants.
12. Who are the prospective tenants?
See the list on the website.
13. Will a tenanted building cover its cost of operation?
The projected pro forma (on website) gives the most informed estimate as to the ongoing cost of operation and a timeline for achieving the goal of self-sufficiency.
14. When is the taxpayer relieved of a potential financial burden?
The taxpayers would be relieved of financial risk if the Town sells the building. If the Town continues to operate the building, then it bears the ongoing business risk and/or profit as the owner. If it closes and abandons the building or demolishes it, then the Town taxpayers bear the cost of demolition.
15. Who covers the heating cost of the building before and during the next year?
Rochester Stockbridge Unified District will cover the heat and other operating costs until the closing on the sale to Rochester, or 7/1/2025, whichever comes first. The owner is responsible from 7/1/ 2025.
16. What environmental concerns exist?
All former concerns were successfully addressed through the BRELLA Environmental Assessment that included brownfields and hazardous waste. Recently, PCBs have become a greater concern and will be addressed according to the latest government mandates. Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission will fund and supervise in-depth PCB testing this fall to determine whether there are levels that exceed state thresholds for the projected use that would require mitigation. The cost of mitigation is unknown until testing is completed.
17. To reiterate the basic issue!
With a NO vote, the Unified School District retains ownership and realistically has only one choice—to mothball and deactivate any operational use. Mothballing/deactivating is subject to state regulations regarding closing and abandoning schools.
With a YES vote the Select Board and/or Rochester voters retain 3 choices: ABANDON–DEMOLISH– REPURPOSE.