Waltham Elementary approves sale of old Utica school

No movement yet on Waltham North School

Utica and Waltham Elementary have a deal.

Wednesday, the Waltham school board approved the sale of the vacant Waltham South School (the former Utica Grade School) to the village of Utica for $135,000 plus closing costs. A separate agreement letting Waltham use the gym is still being hammered out, but will be ready next month.

“The village is very excited,” Waltham Superintendent Kristi Eager said, noting that village staff are keen for more working space. “So I’m glad that it has all worked out this way between the school and the village.”

The deal also means one of the district’s two vacant schools has been unloaded. The other is Waltham North School, located on North 33rd Road.

“The district has not made a decision on the north building yet,” Eager said outside of the meeting.

Separately, Waltham issued parents a survey about whether to increase the length of the school day. Final results aren’t in hand yet, but Eager said parents have “overwhelmingly” signaled they want to return to a normal school day.

Eager said “blended learning” would continue through Feb. 19, after which Waltham will try for 2:20 p.m. dismissals during the third trimester. Most of the faculty will have received at least the first of two COVID-19 vaccines by the start of the third trimester.

Also, the board has a tentative calendar for the 2021-22 school year. Students report Aug. 18 and will return from Christmas vacation Jan. 4, 2022. Spring break was roughly aligned with La Salle-Peru High School and its feeder schools, with break beginning April 11 and students returning April 19. The last day of class tentatively is set for May 26, 2022.

Finally, reduced COVID-19 restrictions mean volleyball games could begin Feb. 1.

Athletic director Seth Brannan advised the board that volleyball is deemed “medium risk” with respect to COVID-19, and contests tentatively are on for next month. Other sports are subject to more fluid timetables.

“Right now we’re just going to take it week by week,” Brannan said.