In its 115-year history, Pawcatuck’s West Broad Street School has weathered hurricanes and blizzards, stood through two world and several less encompassing wars and witnessed epidemics of diseases ranging from scarlet fever and diphtheria to influenza and measles. It was a community landmark through the Great Depression and several recessions and it witnessed economic shifts that transformed the village from an industrial center to a bedroom community.

Through it all, West Broad became a part of school-day memories for thousands. The future is less certain for the stately red brick building. Voter approval in April of an elementary school building and renovation project means within four years, West Broad’s long life as a public school in the town of Stonington will end.

The building will not, however, cease to be an imposing and important focus of the historic village of Pawcatuck. It also should not cease to be a public asset to the town of Stonington.

Thanks to Stonington’s Board of Selectmen, planning is beginning for a new chapter to West Broad’s long history. An advisory committee being formed will mull and recommend appropriate future uses for the building that commands notice in the village once called the West End of Westerly, R.I. Ten people, several with close ties to Pawcatuck and a long history of distinguished public service, already have stepped forward to express interest in being part of the advisory group. It will also include representatives from the boards of finance, education and selectmen.

The committee has an important responsibility ahead as it works to ensure that Pawcatuck does not end up with an empty eyesore in its midst that could fall victim to vandals and neglect. While the possibility of selling the building to a private developer has been discussed, that appears unlikely unless there is a dramatic shift in the local real estate climate. There already are too many examples of empty, downtrodden buildings in downtown Pawcatuck and such an end to the grand school would be a slap in the collective face of all Pawcatuck residents who did the right thing in supporting the school building project.

The selectmen rightfully are leaning towards ensuring West Broad remains a public building and acknowledge there are numerous possibilities for its use in a town that suffers from a lack of public meeting and community space for all types of activities. Among the possible uses are a much-needed Town Hall annex, a school administration building, other types of public meeting space or a community center. Committee members might tour Old Saybrook Town Hall — a stunning and functional renovation of that town’s former Main Street School — for inspiration about what the future could hold for West Broad.

Arguably, Stonington officials should have included more money in the elementary school project bond issue to pay for whatever West Broad makeover is decided. That would have been a smart move, taking advantage of low interest rates and the ability to avoid delays on a West Broad renovation. Yet we understand why the building committee wanted to keep the bonding price tag as low as possible and not confuse the issues.

So whatever planners come up with, it will likely mean a return to voters to approve the borrowing to pay for it. Given the selectmen’s current public promise and a committee comprised of dedicated individuals, residents should be optimistic about receiving a plan that will assure the future is still full of possibilities and new memories for West Broad and the Pawcatuck community.