Pauls Valley’s two vacant school properties are up for sale.
The PV school board voted to solicit sealed bids for Jackson Elementary School and Jefferson Elementary School during their regular meeting on Aug. 11.
The properties will be offered as is, and the board will retain the right to refuse offers not deemed appropriate or not within the appraised value.
If a suitable bid is not received within 90 days, the board will consider other options including possibly demolishing the buildings.
Both schools have been vacant since March when students moved into the newly constructed Pauls Valley Elementary School. The board has spent several months discussing the best course of action for disposing of the properties.
Board members have expressed concern that leaving the buildings unoccupied indefinitely could create a public safety hazard and potentially increases liability for the district. The board has also considered the long-term cost of utilities and maintenance for the buildings, even while vacant, as they’ve weighed the possibility of demolishing them.
Proceeds of a sale will go to the district’s building fund.
During the August meeting, the board also approved purchasing a monument-style sign for the new elementary school at a cost of $50,000. Pauls Valley National Bank has agreed to donate a portion of the cost of the sign, which will be roughly 8 feet tall by 10 feet wide and will feature a double-sided digital message board.
Board members discussed the potential of being able to use the sign’s central and highly visible location on Highway 19 to communicate with the community about items and events throughout the district.
In his report to the board, Superintendent Mike Martin said the district has seen a significant increase in enrollment numbers over last year, adding 156 new students district wide for the 2021- 22 school year. He said the increase does not appear to be the result of a large influx of transfers.
The most significant increase has been at the elementary school, where additional classes have been created to accommodate the increase in students.