A Kingston charter school that focuses on arts and music is facing possible closure.
Currently, the school leases space from Sanborn Regional School District. The district extended the lease last year, but says they did not renew the lease because building’s fire and safety violations are too expensive to repair.
Superintendent Brian Blake says the district intends to leave the building vacant.
Seacoast Charter School principal, Peter Durso, says his school has until the end of the month to raise the $125,000 needed to cover rent, utilities and property taxes at a new location in Stratham formerly used by Great Bay Community College.
So far, the fundraisers are just about half way there. “We’re being optimistic, but there is a very close reality that we could be closing,” Durso says.
Seacoast Charter School teaches an arts-heavy curriculum to 248 students from Kindergarten to 8th grade. It employs 26 faculty and staff, and is in its 11th year.