WINDHAM — Whatever resolution comes out of the high school secondary access road debate, it won't likely emerge Monday.
That's the date the selectmen wanted to meet with school and fire officials. They were to talk about whether access roads from two different directions are necessary for the new Windham High School — scheduled to open in August — and for the district to qualify for $18 million in state school building aid.
School Board Chairwoman Barbara Coish said yesterday she and other board members will not attend the meeting Monday.
"The 29th is too soon," she said.
But Coish did not rule out a future meeting between the boards. She said the School Board met with the district's lawyer Monday in nonpublic session, and they will continue internal talks to find a resolution.
School Board Vice Chairman Bruce Anderson said the selectmen tried to solve the access road question with a $1.25 million bond to build the road. But voters rejected the article in a Special Town Meeting vote Sept. 12.
Now, the School Board thinks it is up to them to solve the matter.
Edward Murdough, the state Department of Education school approval administrator, was invited to the meeting Monday, but will not attend.
Murdough told the selectmen his department has said all it is going to say.
"We have nothing more to add to this dispute which must be resolved locally between the Windham School District and the town of Windham," Murdough wrote in his response to the selectmen.
Murdough said he foresees five possible outcomes over the road question: the fire chief determines it is unnecessary; the road is built; the two parties find a compromise; the selectmen overrule the fire chief; or the two parties seek resolution in court.
Meanwhile, selectmen's Vice Chairman Bruce Breton said time is of the essence if a second access road is to be built before next fall.
"I don't believe in delaying this any longer," Breton said. "It has to come to resolution."
Selectmen maintain the school cannot open without the town's fire chief signing a certificate of occupancy. Fire Chief Tom McPherson said he will not approve occupancy without a second access road.
Coish said she is sure the school will open on time and that it will qualify for state school building aid.
"How we get our certificate of occupancy to open the school we won't say, but it will happen," she said.
