By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board voted to put the Lincoln Elementary School building up for sale at its meeting on Monday.
The board voted at its previous meeting to close the 100-year-old school at the end of school year.
The closure is part of $145 million in bond projects. A new high school is being built. The middle school will move into the remodeled high school. The current middle school will be renovated into a new elementary school.
In addition to closing Lincoln, Rockwell Administration Center will be closed and likely sold. Wilson Elementary School will be closed as a school, and the administrative offices will likely be moved into that building.
Renovations and additions at Roosevelt Elementary School are nearing completion.
At their Monday meeting, the board members approved the price for adding to and renovating O'Loughlin Elementary School.
The board voted to accept sealed bids for the Lincoln building while retaining the right to reject any and all bids.
Superintendent Ron Wilson said he has had no serious conversations with potential buyers, but several people have asked when the building might be available for sale.
An Overland Park Developer purchased the former Washington Elementary School and renovated that building into apartments.
The playground equipment at the school would likely be moved to another district school.
The district has to give the state the opportunity to purchase the property per state statute. The bidding process would be contingent on the Legislature's approval of the sale.
Board member Allen Park said he wanted to look at other uses for the building before it is sold.
He suggested the two district programs leasing space, the WeKan Center and virtual school, could move into that building.
Board member Jayme Goetz said that through the bond process, the district had already determined that renovating Lincoln and continuing to use it as a school would be too costly.
Although Lincoln could be renovated into housing or for other purposes, board member Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp said those uses fall outside the school district's mission.
Board members Derek Yarmer and Park voted against the motion to sell the school.