For all the ideas now bouncing around regarding the future use of the Fuller School site, the most important question remains to be answered.
Despite all of the revenue-generating ideas in the report from the quasi-public MassDevelopment agency or localized proposals for using Fuller as home to a municipal complex or consolidated school site, the fact is nothing — absolutely nothing — can go forward until the School Committee votes once and for all to declare the building a "surplus" facility.
So while the School Committee is surveying the "school community" to get its thoughts regarding the shape of the Gloucester school district, school officials must also quickly come to that decision. And Mayor Carolyn Kirk and the City Council should indeed set a firm deadline — perhaps March 31, the end of this quarter — for turning over the property, or commit to holding it while the city eyes other options for its public safety building and other potential projects.
It's surprising the School Committee hasn't jumped at the chance to surrender Fuller. That, after all, would be a primary step toward building a new school at West Parish — whether that facility houses only the West Parish district, or whether it's built as a larger building that could house a consolidation of West Parish and at least one other elementary school population.
Indeed, if the School Committee continues to hold onto Fuller, we can only assume the committee is willing to consider consolidating at least some of the elementary schools there. And for a lot of educational reasons, it seems clear that's not the case.
Ultimatums are never pretty. But if there was ever a time and place for one, this is it.
Unless the School Committee turns over Fuller by a firm date — again, perhaps the end of March — the city should consider Fuller as a school property, shift any West Parish plans to renovating the existing West Parish and Fuller buildings, and move ahead with other choices.
It's time to go forward.
