District Seeks Maris Opinion

The Sag Harbor School District is expected to release information soon about a formal appraisal of the former Stella Maris Regional School, the purchase of which is being explored. Several closed-door sessions to discuss real estate have been held dating back to the summer. The property’s most recently advertised sale price is $3.5 million.

Katy Graves, the district superintendent, said during Monday’s school board meeting that she would spend the rest of December putting together a survey that will contain information as well as questions for the community to consider. “It’s not simple to move through that information,” she said.

Should enough residents express interest in purchasing the former Stella Maris, which closed at the end of the 2010-11 school year, Ms. Graves said a vote would be scheduled for May or June.

The survey will be distributed electronically and be available for comment for at least three weeks. Ms. Graves said she would work out a way for residents who do not have computers, or don’t know how to use them, to participate.

 “We really want to have as much participation as possible by the community,” she said. Ms. Graves noted that the district’s information technology staff was working on a way to protect the survey’s results against fraud.