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You could say Dansville’s former middle school building has gotten a new lease on life.
Dansville Central School Board of Education approved a new lease with Genesee Community College Jan. 10; GCC’s board approved the same lease Feb. 6. Both boards approved unanimously.
The $122,732 annual lease expands the college’s offerings in Dansville to serve its community with a total of 15 rooms, plus “common use” areas such as the auditorium, gymnasium and cafeteria.
The term of lease is 10 years.
“We are very pleased that the building will continue to serve the community,” Superintendent Paul Alioto said. “We are excited about how GCC might expand opportunities for Dansville students and we are optimistic that this lease will contribute toward economic revitalization in Dansville.”
The new lease agreement allows the college to occupy the entirety of the newer portion of the former middle school, plus the main office and former library in the original part of the building.
GCC associate dean Peter Soscia said that some rooms, such as the library, could be used for a different purpose. A student-led committee is working on developing a room map.
The college will continue to use the same rooms that it has been leasing since last semester, which include a science lab, the vocal music room, an art studio, plus the gymnasium.
Soscia said the Main Street campus that GCC has leased for the past decade has, “the smallest footprint and the largest population.” Dansville’s enrollment is about 350.
The choice to expand was made out of a desire to offer more to students and neighbors.
“That particular building will provide opportunities that we do not even understand yet,” Soscia said.
The new lease allows all GCC at Dansville classes to be under one roof. The Route 63 campus will be completely vacated after this semester. The college’s lease on that building is up this year.
The college has already been moving some supplies to the former middle school, and intends to be fully moved in this summer.
Kidstart Headstart, a second tennant in the former middle school since this past fall, will continue its operations there. Soscia said that the move could create opportunities with Kidstart, such as student internships.
Other partnerships could include more association with the Dansville school district by extending college-level programs to high schoolers, and by giving them the opportunity to be part of the college’s cultural programs.
Soscia said he also hopes to expand cultural events to the community at-large, such as the jazz and blues symposium conducted there this fall.
The move will also allow the number of courses offered to increase.
“These things happen because the community is so strong and they make them happen,” Soscia said.
He added that working at the Dansville campus for the past 10 years has restored his faith in people, and is looking forward to seeing what the expansion will bring to the community in the next decade.
You could say Dansville’s former middle school building has gotten a new lease on life.
Dansville Central School Board of Education approved a new lease with Genesee Community College Jan. 10; GCC’s board approved the same lease Feb. 6. Both boards approved unanimously.
The $122,732 annual lease expands the college’s offerings in Dansville to serve its community with a total of 15 rooms, plus “common use” areas such as the auditorium, gymnasium and cafeteria.
The term of lease is 10 years.
“We are very pleased that the building will continue to serve the community,” Superintendent Paul Alioto said. “We are excited about how GCC might expand opportunities for Dansville students and we are optimistic that this lease will contribute toward economic revitalization in Dansville.”
The new lease agreement allows the college to occupy the entirety of the newer portion of the former middle school, plus the main office and former library in the original part of the building.
GCC associate dean Peter Soscia said that some rooms, such as the library, could be used for a different purpose. A student-led committee is working on developing a room map.
The college will continue to use the same rooms that it has been leasing since last semester, which include a science lab, the vocal music room, an art studio, plus the gymnasium.
Soscia said the Main Street campus that GCC has leased for the past decade has, “the smallest footprint and the largest population.” Dansville’s enrollment is about 350.
The choice to expand was made out of a desire to offer more to students and neighbors.
“That particular building will provide opportunities that we do not even understand yet,” Soscia said.
The new lease allows all GCC at Dansville classes to be under one roof. The Route 63 campus will be completely vacated after this semester. The college’s lease on that building is up this year.
The college has already been moving some supplies to the former middle school, and intends to be fully moved in this summer.
Kidstart Headstart, a second tennant in the former middle school since this past fall, will continue its operations there. Soscia said that the move could create opportunities with Kidstart, such as student internships.
Other partnerships could include more association with the Dansville school district by extending college-level programs to high schoolers, and by giving them the opportunity to be part of the college’s cultural programs.
Soscia said he also hopes to expand cultural events to the community at-large, such as the jazz and blues symposium conducted there this fall.
The move will also allow the number of courses offered to increase.
“These things happen because the community is so strong and they make them happen,” Soscia said.
He added that working at the Dansville campus for the past 10 years has restored his faith in people, and is looking forward to seeing what the expansion will bring to the community in the next decade.
