Morgan BOE looks at three school sites
The location of the proposed new Priceville High School has apparently been narrowed down to three possible sites, including a 36-acre tract that was donated by the town of Priceville six month ago.
Morgan County School District Superintendent Bill Hopkins identified the two additional sites at a work session of the Morgan County School Board Thursday night. He said he has talked to the property owners but no mention of price was made.
He said a 50-acre tract is available on Bethel and Cave Springs Road and has sewer access. A same-size tract without sewer service is available within a 160-acre Baker tract fronting on Upper River Road.
“The land donated for the school is accessible only by a gravel road and will require considerable off-site road improvements, possibly as much as $1 million,” Hopkins explained. “We need a minimum of 46 acres and the architect recommends that three sites be looked at part of the elimination process.”
The other matters, the board agreed to take sealed bids on the sale of the Ryan School property and increase the cost of school lunched by five cents per meal.
Board member Jeff McLemore recommended that the board sell the property without the assistance of a realtor.
“We can describe the property, advertise it for bids on condition that we have the right to reject any or all bids and have a bid opening,” He pointed out. That way we can save the real estate fee.”
Mary Beth Henry, director of Child Nutrition, recommended a 25-cent increase for school lunches; however, the board opted to set the increase at a nickel instead after looking at the meal prices of other school systems in a 3-county area.
Henry said she based her recommendation on the guidelines of the Healthy hunger-free Food Act of 2010. She pointed out that larger servings of fruit and veggies are being required, with a corresponding increase in food prices.”