(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake school board wants to see if the city of Spirit Lake might be interested in joining the school district in purchasing some land. The school board voted last winter to purchase the land immediately south of the Elementary and Middle Schools for 300-thousand dollars. The district takes possession February 15th, 2003.
It was reported at Monday’s school board meeting that a letter has been sent to city officials asking if they might be interested in joining in on the purchase. The letter states that “as co-owners, the school and city could then develop a long-term, mutually beneficial plan for division and use of this property”. The city council is expected to act on the letter at an upcoming meeting.
In other business, the Spirit Lake School Board heard an update on the high school remodeling and new construction project, which now stands at three-point-eight million dollars. It was reported it will be atleast the middle of October before the new addition is ready for occupancy.
The board also reviewed a one million dollar grant application the district is making through the “Iowa Demonstration Grant Program”. If it’s awarded the grant, the district would need to match it with 953-thousand dollars. Superintendent Tim Grieves says the money would come from the district’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levies. The grant would go toward the school’s construction projects. The district expects to hear October 23rd as to whether or not it’s been awarded the grant.
Monday’s meeting saw a changing-of-the-guard so-to-speak. Carol Schultz stepped down from her seat as newly elected board member Cliff Garvey took her place. Garvey defeated Schultz by two votes in last week’s school board election.
The school board also met in closed session to discuss a student confidentiality matter.
