While the main focus of Tuesday’s public hearing was to discuss the proposed plan that would close three Selma City Schools, one resident brought up a point the school board should consider.

Old Town resident Nancy Smith, who lives on Tremont Street, knows what it is like to live near a closed school. She knows what it is like to see a former school nearly crumble to ruins and see those with less than good intentions use the building for less than good actions.

The former Tremont High School had fallen in to deplorable shape over the years with busted windows tattered doors and mounds upon mounds of unwanted school system materials. It had become a waste dump for the system.

Recently, the Historical Commission purchased the building and has spent thousands upon thousands cleaning up the site, organizing the interior, securing the doors and replacing some of the windows. Their hope,  and our hope, is that a useful purpose for the building can be found and that it can once again play a vital role in the Old Town community.

As the board now considers to shutter three more buildings, let us hope the plan for their upkeep, their future use and the vital role they could play in their communities is as well debated as the idea to close them.