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Property transactions were the main topic of discussion at this week’s Pella School Board meeting.
Superintendent Greg Ebeling says the board decided to purchase land next to Lincoln Elementary for the possibility of future expansion at the new school site.
“We are going to purchase that property, the board agreed upon a price of $135,000 for that, and that’s very similar to what we actually paid for around Lincoln,” Ebeling says. “That’s a property we think can provide future expansion room, especially in the area of parking.”
He says the board also decided against selling nearly 25 acres of farmland owned by the district south of the main campus along University Street.
“We really aren’t sure what our long term vision is for that property,” Ebeling tells KNIA/KRLS News. “So, as we were talking about housing and housing needs in Pella, it came up with some other city leaders that would the school district be interested in selling property.”
Ebeling says the issue for the district is that the land was purchased for more than what the property is worth now, so the board decided to hold onto the land.
“Right now, we just don’t believe we’d be able to recoup the money we have invested,” Ebeling says.
Hear more from this week’s Pella School Board Meeting on Let’s Talk Pella.