Could St. Patrick s School replace Belcher?

Date: 3/3/2009

Officials consider possibilities



By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



CHICOPEE -- The mayor, most of the members of the City Council, the School Committee and other city officials toured the closed St. Patrick s School on Saturday morning thinking of how the city would use the building if it could make an arrangement with the parish and diocese.

Mayor Michael Bissonnette said after the tour of the building, which is still used weekly for CDC classes and bingo, The building is in great shape. It s very sound. There seems to be a consensus among the City Council and School Committee members that the city should explore [an agreement] further with the parish or diocese.

Bissonnette s initial thought is to move the aging Belcher School into the former parochial school. He said that Belcher, which doesn t have a playground, is on its last legs.

He added that state officials estimate a new elementary school would cost between $10 and $12 million, while the price to acquire St. Patrick s would be considerably less.

Bissonnette said his only concern is the potential cost and safety of transporting Belcher students across the river.

We re just starting to look at the possibilities of what might be happening for the building, Father Rick Turner told the group of about 20 officials on the tour. He explained to Reminder Publications the parish would be in partnership with the diocese on a final decision.

Working out a deal, if possible, would be a priority this month, Bissonnette said. He added he knows the parish would want to continue to use the building for its religious education and fundraising activities.

The mayor said the school had once been considered a site for a new senior center, but there are too many levels and stairs.

Kathy Mitchell, the business director for the parish, said the school was closed on June 17, 2008 and was built in 1969. It has 10 classrooms on its two levels, with a library, a computer room and storage in its basement. The school has a full kitchen with a walk-in freezer and refrigerator.

It was built to accommodate 300 students and sits on a seven-acre parcel. The rear parking lot can handle the more than 400 people who attend the weekly bingo games.

The city officials went through the building carefully, inspecting classrooms, storage areas and restrooms and seemed impressed. After the tour they congregated in the school s lobby and talked about the possibilities presented by the school.

Looking at the group, Bissonnette said, This seems to be an opportunity we need to explore.