With Stonington voters having approved the $69 million renovation and expansion of Deans Mill and West Vine Street schools, the town now has to decide what to do with the 115-year-old West Broad Street School which will close when the project is completed for the start of the 2019-20 school year.

The town is in the process of setting up a committee to study the condition of the school, its possible uses and their costs and make recommendations.

The Board of Selectmen is accepting letters from residents interested is serving on the committee and will soon be interviewing candidates.

“There’s plenty of interest and plenty of ideas,” said First Selectman George Crouse. “The good news is the Grand Old Lady will stay a part of the town’s life.”

When the elementary school renovation project was first discussed 20 years ago, there was strong opposition to closing West Broad Street school among some parts of the Pawcatuck community. Generations of families have attended the stately brick structure.

That opposition has waned over the years as more and more residents became aware of the many structural and educational deficiencies of the school which lists Laugh-In star Ruth Buzzi as it most famous graduate.

Problems with the sprinkler system and collapsed ceilings have closed stairwells and classrooms and forced the town to spend money on emergency repairs.

Children eat lunch in a noisy basement hallway which doubles as a cafeteria. The basketball court has beams in the middle of the floor. That isn’t surprising considering that basketball had been invented just four years before the school was built.

The six flights of stairs are not handicapped accessible and there is no elevator. Principal Alicia Dawe said that because of this she doesn’t schedule any programs in the auditorium/gym on the top floor.

There are three small but separate playground areas which means staff members have to closely monitor students as they cross parking areas.

Asked to name the worst deficiencies in the school, Dawe said “there are so many things. I could go on and on.”

As for the closing of West Broad and moving to a renovated and expanded West Vine Street School, where she is also the principal, Dawe said “I’m excited about a new educational setting that will support 21st century skills and education for our children.”

A study done earlier this year by K-12 School Building Committee member Julie Holland and John Jensen of Pequot Commercial Realty looked at what the town could expect to receive by selling or leasing the three elementary schools and the School Administrative Building.

It found that West Broad Street School, which has a market value of between $250,000 and $500,000, has the best potential for conversion into 25 condominiums or apartments. The building and property are appraised by the town at $4 million. A variance could also allow the building to be converted into medical offices. A long-term lease of $1 per year with taxes paid in lieu of rent should also be considered, according to the study.

St. Michael Church has also expressed interest in the building for its school. Other options could be a Town Hall annex and space for school administration offices.

West Broad Street currently houses 133 students in grades three and four with West Vine Street School accommodating 204 students in kindergarten through grade 2. The just approved plan will house all Pawcatuck elementary students in one school which is what occurs at Deans Mills School for students in the Mystic and Stonington sections of town.

j.wojtas@theday.com

@joewojtas