Waltham Elementary to buy 10 acres for $250,000

Waltham Elementary School in Utica still may build an annex – the previously reported crunch isn’t going away – so the board plans to purchase land for a future expansion.

The Waltham School District 185 Board exited closed session Wednesday and approved a resolution to purchase 10 acres of adjoining property for $250,000.

Superintendent Kristi Eager said a purchase is pending.

“We only passed the resolution to move forward with the purchase,” Eager said. “Nothing’s official yet.”

Board President Jim McCabe further emphasized that the board has not scheduled a referendum to advance a previously proposed annex.

“The land purchase is for the future,” he said.

Waltham’s enrollment is projected to climb about one-fifth of its current enrollment in the years ahead. The board had proposed building an annex of 21,000 square feet on the north side.

Raising taxes to fund it would require voter approval, but a referendum last year was put on hold.