At long last, Allenstown’s board of selectmen voted Monday evening to purchase both the Allenstown Elementary School and the Armand R. Dupont School from the school district for $1 each.

Yet after further review, the town discovered buying the buildings may take longer than expected — a whole year longer to be precise.

A state law stipulating the conditions under which a board of selectmen can purchase and dispose of any property requires towns to hold two public hearings around the desired purchase. The law also requires towns to offer voters the opportunity to petition to submit an article to the town warrant to be voted on in the town election, according to town administrator John Harrington.

In Allenstown, not enough time was left to bring the issue to residents, Harrington said, given the short time frame of the town’s deliberative session, scheduled for Feb. 1, and the town election to be held on March 11. As a result, the decision to purchase the former elementary school and former middle school will be delayed until 2026 at the earliest.

“The board of selectmen is still very interested in purchasing the two properties,” Harrington added.

The board hopes to eventually move the town offices into Allenstown Elementary and use the space for community gatherings. The Armand R. Dupont Middle School, which needs more renovation, will likely be sold after the town acquires it.

The decision made Monday night prior to the discovery of the state law came after many discussions about the town’s ability to purchase, maintain and potentially renovate the former elementary school and about what to do with the former middle school.

As they mulled over the decision, selectmen met with the school board to discuss options earlier this month and wanted to give residents a chance to voice their thoughts throughout the process.

“I would like to thank the townsfolk,” chair of the Board of Selectmen Scott McDonald said. “There were a lot of people who offered their opinions, their recommendations, and their concerns. That doesn’t always happen. I think almost universally we had positive feedback that this is something the town should do.”

The SAU 53 preschool, The Learning Connection, currently operates out of one wing of the elementary school. The Dupont Middle School has sat largely empty since its students, along with the elementary grades, moved to the Allenstown Community School last year.

“It does need a significant amount of work, but I think it’s still a solid structure. We’re not sure what we’re going to do with it,” McDonald said of the Dupont School.

Rachel Wachman can be reached at rwachman@cmonitor.com.