GREENVILLE TWP — As construction continues on Greenville’s new K-8 school at Ohio Street, the Greenville City School District must decide on the final disposition of a number of its soon-to-be abandoned educational facilities.
The fate of one property, however, has been determined.
The Greenville Township Board of Trustees has agreed to purchase the Woodland Heights property, approximately 20 acres in size, from the Greenville City School District for $175,000.
The Greenville Board of Education gave the sale its seal of approval during its Dec. 17, 2015, meeting.
Greenville Superintendent Doug Fries calls the sale an example of “the community working together.”
“It’s beneficial to us, but also beneficial to them,” he said.
Currently, Woodland Heights Primary is used for the district’s Kindergarten, first- and second-grade students. Prior to the 2007-2008 school year, the school hosted Kindergarten through fifth-grade students. The building was originally constructed in 1956.
Though the sale has been finalized, Woodland Primary School students and staff will continue to use the building and grounds until students transfer to the new Elementary/Middle School expected to be opened in January 2017.
“The township has been very helpful. They’re going to let us use it as long as we need to use it,” Fries said.
After the move to the new school is complete, Fries says there will be an auction of various items within the building, a sale scheduled to be conducted by Mike Baker of Midwest Auctioneers of Greenville. Once the auction is accomplished, the school building itself will undergo abatement (to remove hazardous materials such as asbestos) and thereafter, demolition.
With the purchase of the Woodland Heights property, Greenville Township ultimately looks to create a fire/rescue presence on the north side of Greenville. The township currently maintains a fire/rescue facility at 401 Sater Street, southeast of the city.
The final fate of East Intermediate School, South Middle School and the Junior High School is still to be determined, though Fries said he expects East and South Schools will be demolished and the land sold for development.
