By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board approved a contract for the sale of Lincoln Elementary School at its meeting Monday night.
The sale is contingent on the Kansas Legislature's approval. State law stipulates the Legislature has the first right of refusal in the sale of public school buildings.
The 100-year-old school will close at the end of this school year.
Hays developer Michael Graham plans to purchase the building for $850,000 and renovate it into apartments.
Graham plans to renovate the school into 26 to 28 one—and two-bedroom apartments, which will be moderate-income housing. He also plans to build on the property surrounding the school.
Closing on the property is set for Oct. 1, according to the contract.
Bill Jeter, board attorney, said this time frame will allow the district to remove any furniture, equipment or fixtures after the end of the school year.
The Lincoln closure is part of a series of bond-funded projects, including renovations and the expansion of Roosevelt Elementary School and O'Loughlin Elementary School. The current middle school will also be renovated into a new elementary school.
Wilson Elementary School also is set to close as an elementary school. Administrative offices will likely be moved to that building.
Roosevelt's grand opening was in December. A groundbreaking for the O'Loughlin project is set for March 6.
SEE RELATED STORY: Hays developer to purchase Lincoln school for apartment project
SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 school board votes to sell Lincoln school
The board also approved the district's audit, district-level administrator contracts and policy changes.
The district-level contracts included Superintendent Ron Wilson, Assistant Superintendents Shanna Dinkel and Chris Hipp, and Kyle Carlin, director of the special education cooperative.