196 School Board approves building purchase

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The District 196 School Board has approved a $5 million purchase agreement for a building that currently houses three district programs.

Since 2006, the Apple Valley facility has been home to the district’s Area Learning Center, Transition Plus and Pathway programs. Finance director Jeff Solomon said when the district moved into the space the lease agreement made sense, because the district needed space.

“We were in property … that was really not ideal,” Solomon said.

The district will see immediate savings as owner of the building because there will no longer be property taxes to pay. Under the old lease agreement the district was responsible for paying all property taxes.

The school board also gave Solomon approval to find financing for the purchase. Solomon said there has already been interest in the project and interest rates are good.

Tags: school district 196, education, news