School district could purchase 20 acres by SCHS

The Shawano School District will hold a special meeting of the electorate Dec. 9 to get guidance on whether it should purchase 20 acres of land adjacent to Shawano Community High School.

In 1992, the district purchased the 70 acres of land where the current high school would eventually be built. According to Superintendent Kurt Krizan, when that deal was made, part of the contract stipulated that the district would have the right of first refusal if the adjoining parcel was ever put up for sale. The 20 acres was announced to have received an offer Oct. 17, which gives the district until mid-December to decide if it wants to purchase the land or let it go to someone else.

With the possibility of seeking a new middle school just a few years down the road, it could be tapped as a potential site. No decision has been made on where the middle school could go, and the Shawano School Board has committed to operating the current middle school at least through 2035.

“(Buildings director) Shawn Mathwich and I had a chance to tour the property and talk with some of the individuals there,” Krizan said. “We’re looking at this from a financial impact, as well as a future investment for the district.”

The purchase would likely be made through the district’s fund balance, and Krizan noted that the land could be rented out while the district decides what to ultimately do with the property. If it’s decided not to use it for any educational purpose, it could be resold at a later date.

Board president Mike Musolff noted that having the land and renting it out would help the fund balance, even though it’s already very healthy.

Board member Christine McKinnies said she had some questions that would need to be addressed before the electorate meeting, including what is the amount of the existing offer for the land.

“When we decide, it would be nice to know what we were deciding on, and what the financial impact would be,” McKinnies said.

The special meeting will begin at 5 p.m. and will precede the school board’s meeting, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. and is expected to have action on purchasing the land on the agenda.

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com