By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
An Overland Park developer is still on track to purchase the former Washington school building, Hays USD 489 superintendent Ron Wilson said Monday.
The building was vacated in the fall when the Early Childhood Connections moved to its new home on 13th Street.
The school board extended a contract in July with Overland Property Group to purchase the school for $500,000.
The developer wants to renovate the former school into apartments, but the purchase is contingent on the developer receiving tax credits for the renovation.
Wilson told the board Monday he had spoken to the developer, and it is still on track on its application for tax credits.
Board member Allen Park asked why the district was under contract to sell the school for $500,000 when the building was appraised at $1.3 million.
Board member Lance Bickle, who was on the board when the district entered into the contract, said OPG's bid was the highest at the time the district entered into the contract.
The district has also determined the building would be too expensive to renovate for other uses, Mike Walker, board president, said.
The Washington building was being used by the Learning Center before schools were closed by the governor. OPG told Wilson even if the developer buys the property, the school district could keep the Learning Center in Washington through fall 2020.