Published: May 14, 2008 09:42 pm            

Lincoln School may avoid demolition

By JEREMY HALL

jeremy.hall@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The wrecking ball may not swing the way of Lincoln School after all.

District 80 Superintendent Dr. Kevin Settle told the district’s board of education Wednesday that following a meeting with city officials, he learned the city council may rezone the property should a suitable buyer be located.

“It gives us a little different direction than I thought we had to go,” Settle told the board. “In the long run, it could save us a substantial amount of money.”

Settle said if District 80 can locate a buyer for the property, the district can avoid an estimated cost of $400,000 to demolish the building.

Currently, the YMCA is housed in the school’s gymnasium and cafeteria area of the building. According to Register-News archives, the YMCA invested roughly $85,000 to renovate its area, while asbestos and mold issues forced District 80 to consider disposing of the other areas.

Settle told the board the city was adamant that a suitable proposal be made for the property before it would consider rezoning the property.

“It’s very clear,” the superintendent said, “we don’t want to do anything that would cause the property values in this area to go down.”

District 80 board members gave Settle unanimous approval to send out an e-mail to each superintendent within the state soliciting experience with such matters. The board also authorized Settle to talk with local businesses that have refurbished properties, with the aim of obtaining as much information as possible before a potential sale of the building.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, Settle told the board a task force examining the possibility of a balanced calendar schedule for the district will hold its final meeting of the school year 6 p.m. May 28 at the Mt. Vernon Primary Center. Settle said the public is invited to attend the meeting.

Teachers within the district have been polled, Settle said, and have responded positively to a change in the annual schedule.

“We keep getting green lights,” Settle said. “Overall, the teachers were supportive and said, ‘let’s keep going on.’”

In other action at Wednesday’s meeting:

— Ford Square’s low bid of $21,000 was accepted for the purchase of a new utility van for the district’s maintenance department.

— Jim Gosney’s low bid of $19,995 was accepted for painting of the Primary Center.

— Lipps Construction had the low bid of $79,900 for ceiling and interior door replacement at Casey Middle School, as well as the low bid of $135,400 for remodeling of the walkway and exterior doors at Casey and Hall School. Lipps also was approved — with a low bid of $16,000 — for remodeling of the boys toilets at the J.L. Buford Intermediate Center.

— The board approved a low bid of $146,450 for a new chiller at the Primary Center.

— An agreement was reached with Dyel Transportation on a new contract that included a 2.5-percent increase over last year’s contract.

        

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