Rochester school district seeks land for new elementary school: Do you know a location?

ROCHESTER — Superintendent Kyle Repucci sent a letter out this week announcing the Rochester School District is looking to acquire land to build a new elementary school.

The school district wants to close two older elementary schools, the Nancy Loud School and the School Street School, and combine the students in a single, new elementary school.

The letter was sent to all parents of students in the Rochester School District as well as local real estate agents and developers.

The district is inviting community members that may have land to sell to respond to its request for proposals. The district has identified several key criteria for land that's most favorable for constructing a new school. The ideal plot would be seven to 14 acres of contiguous dry upland soil, with access to public water, sewer, and natural gas lines.

New Hampshire's State Board of Education put Rochester at the top of the list when it approved 17 school building applications totaling $227.7 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, according to Kimberly Houghton, communications administrator for the board. The list includes funding for a portion of construction costs for new schools, renovations and building additions.

More:Rochester may combine two elementary schools: What to know about why and when

Rochester's request is for a project totaling $33.6 million, and the district stands to receive 60% of that cost, or $20,170,800, and its No. 1 ranking means it may be the most likely to receive the money, but it isn't assured. The state Legislature must approve the funds as part of its 2024 budget proposal.

City Manager Blaine Cox said if approved, the grant could be handled in one of two ways. The amount could be brought to the city to be accepted and appropriated, or the school district could incorporate the grant as part of its budget process to be presented to the city.

If approved, two of the city's eight elementary schools, the Nancy Loud School and the School Street School, would be closed and consolidated at the new school, according to plans filed by Rochester school leaders in an application to the State Board of Education. Five modular classrooms currently used by the district will be eliminated.

Two Rochester elementary schools − the School Street and Nancy Loud Schools − are more than 100 years old and are the least adaptive to modern educational needs, lack adequate space within their respective footprints, and are more expensive to maintain and operate.

In addition to the state building aid to help with the cost of building a school, the district would also utilize the funds from a school building capital reserve.

"We are eager to explore the possibilities for placing a new school and are hopeful members of our community will evaluate the RFP we've created and determine if their property and needs align with the district's needs," said Repucci. "The School Board and City Council have done extensive work in partnership with experts and city data sources to identify the best solution for future generations of Rochester students."

Community members interested in learning more or submitting a proposal can do so by emailing School Board Attorney Jerome Grossman at jeromegrossmanlaw@gmail.com  by Jan. 30, 2023.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Rochester, NH school district seeks land for new elementary school