Waldorf School Takes Legal Action in Lease Dispute with Barnstable

BARNSTABLE – Legal action has officially been taken by the Waldorf School against the Town of Barnstable.

The town’s school committee decided in January to not renew the current five-year lease of the former Cotuit Elementary School building which expires June 30.

The complaint by the school filed last week in Barnstable Superior Court argues that the lease requires the town to provide 540 days notice for termination.

“Basically, the town and us have different interpretations of what the intent of the lease was,” said Roxanne King, the Waldorf School’s director of admissions.

“So the judge will now make a decision on what the correct intent was.”

Waldorf School officials believe they should have one more year in the building.

“I’m basically just waiting to hear from the courts on when they will be able to look at our case, but they haven’t reached out to us yet,” King said.

The school is hoping for a quick decision to help it prepare the new school year in the fall.

King said school officials will continue to look for a new location so they are ready for a move this summer or next summer.

“All of the families who are here are really committed to the school and moving forward,” King said.

The Waldorf School is also continuing its efforts to enroll new students for this coming fall.

King believes the community will miss having the school in Cotuit.

“I’ve talked to other organizations in the area, like the Cotuit Library, who will really miss us,” King said.

The school makes weekly visits to the library.

“I think the community will miss us here and don’t really want us to go,” she said.

The decision by the school committee not to renew the lease was based on the Waldorf School falling behind on rent payments for the last two years.

The school was reportedly behind in rent payments by $75,000 at one point. That figure has been reduced to $20,000.

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