At Tuesday’s board meeting, residents packed the Monroe Junior-Senior High School’s media room to voice their thoughts on the old high school and on the options that have been made public.
George Long, district business manager, gave a brief presentation on what has been discussed about the building that sits on three tracts of land totalling 29 acres. It originally constructed as a 3,200-square-foot building in 1912. He said the building is in serious disrepair and leaks are causing damage to the structure, along with a vandalism problem and potential liability issues for the district.
Long said the appraised value of the property was between $1.2 million and $1.3 million, which is about the same amount it would cost the district to abate hazardous materials such as asbestos, floor tile, etc. and to demolish the building. He said the building had been used several years ago by Butler Tech and Middletown City Schools as swing space during their building construction program but has not been used for several years.
In January 2012, the district was offered $50,000 for the building by the Monroe Church of God. That offer was rejected by the board and now allows the district to enter negotiations to dispose of the building. In addition, the board is required by law to offer the building to a church or charter school for use.
Superintendent Phil Cagwin said the district last used the building as its high school in 2004.
Among the options Long presented to the board were:
- Selling the property to the city of Monroe for future development as a possible mixed residential/business use to take advantage of a growth opportunity and re-do its downtown area or possibly for recreation use.
- The district demolishes the building. This city and district option would put the $1.2-$1.3 million costs for hazardous material abatement and demolition back on the taxpayers.
- Selling the property to the Monroe Church of God, which would demolish all but the addition constructed in 1966 that includes the gym, auditorium, old library and a three-story section of classrooms. Long said the church envisions its future use as a new location for worship, a community center as well as possible swing space if Monroe has to build new school buildings.
Suzi Rubin, the city’s vice mayor and former school board member, said when the new building was built, there were no funds to demolish the old building.
Rubin said she’s willing to work with the church, but raised one concern.
“If the church cannot raise the money, will they sell pieces of the property?” Rubin said. “The city wants something to be proud of 10 years from now.”
Anna Hale, a councilwoman who has lived in Monroe since 1952, said the building “belongs to the public and the people who passed previous levies. Everyone has ideas… we need to come forth with a mission for this community property.”
While she said she walked the building’s halls for many days, Hale wants the board to give the city an opportunity to come up with a plan.
Rocky Heflin, a former board president and LMHS principal, wanted to make sure any purchase agreement would ensure the building is not used for a charter or private school to compete with the district if the church obtains the property; to make sure the district can use the building as future swing space; and if the church should decide to sell it, that the board has first opportunity to buy it back.
Scott Barger, the church’s executive pastor, said the building project is not a church project, and the iconic building shouldn’t be demolished.
“It’s a project for all three entities,” he said. “Nothing’s happened for 10 years. We’re ready to execute the plan, and we believe we have the ability to manage the project.”
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