Housing developers getting close to purchasing old middle school

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Action on the North Grand Building is getting close.

“We will have a public announcement before spring break, and that’s being generous,” Charles City Superintendent Mike Fisher said Monday. “I believe we’ll have it done before then.”

By that, Fisher means a purchase agreement will be final before spring break.

“You’re going to see a lot of things happen, even this fall,” Fisher said at the school board meeting. “We’re going to see something that’s best for our community — more market-rate housing, things that assist our community.”

The old middle school building, at 500 N. Grand Ave., currently contains central services — which is the school district’s business office, superintendent’s office and community engagement office — among other things. It stopped serving as general purpose classrooms when the new middle school opened two years ago.

A previous agreement with a developer in June 2017 fell through, and the former middle school has remained district property. The district took a more active role in developing the building since Fisher officially began work in the school district in July.

“I know there’s some concern — we’ve had things not work out in the past.” Fisher said. “Everybody we’re looking at has a track record. They’ve done this before. They’ve taken decommissioned schools and turned them into housing that’s been effective, and has been an improvement for the community.”

The building is listed as the “Charles City Junior-Senior High School” on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1932 and first served as Charles City High School. Most recently, it was Charles City Middle School.

On Monday, the Board of Education authorized the administration to work with interested parties to negotiate possible terms for the sale of the property. The negotiations will include any conditions or restrictions the board recommends be placed on the sale.

Fisher said a lot depends on getting some zoning things done, and the rezoning is about a 90-day process.

“We’re super-excited. I know it seems like we’re just kind of teasing this, but we’re literally having weekly meetings over this right now,” he said. “I know there’s skepticism, but once the developer is ready to come out, you’re going to see the track record of the developer goes back.”

There have been ongoing discussions with prospective buyers over the last nine months since the previous option to purchase the property expired in December 2017. The district has been in contact with 10 different developers since July.

“We’ve got two developers now who are very serious, to the point where they are ready for conceptual plans,” Fisher said. “Up to this point, it’s just been discussions. Now we’re talking about what a purchase agreement could look like, and that’s very exciting. We’ve gotten into the next phase.”

Fisher said he was not ready to disclose names, but did say that they are state-wide developers and he expects them to be named sometime this fall, and for a sale to be closed by spring.

“Their preference is to still remain anonymous, but we’re getting very close to where we can identify them,” he said. “They’re still securing funding and doing a lot of those kinds of things.

“Their primary focus is housing. They’re looking at market-rate housing — we know there’s a great need for that in the community. We’re looking at people who have experience doing this, and have experience at being successful at doing this.”

Fisher said that the developers he’s talked to want to keep the North Grand Auditorium open, for continued use by the school district and the community.

In recent weeks, several members of the community have come forward with plans and ideas for the building, including using it for an art institute or business offices. Some have suggested tearing the building down.

“That building will not be torn down during my watch as superintendent,” said Fisher, who implied that a developer may want to turn the building into senior housing. He said that in his discussions in the community, it was clear that senior housing is a priority in Charles City.

“We started with the board action item tonight, and now you’re going to see a lot of public things happen,” Fisher said. “We’ve also shared with them that we need to get the name out sooner rather than later.

“First of all, you’re going to see stuff coming to the city zoning and planning very soon,” he said. “You’re going to see City Council items come up, and you’re going to see school board action items come up. There will be a point where the developer will do a public presentation to the school board.”

Fisher said that the district is looking for a contract that leaves it without any obligations.

“We are exploring a purchase agreement that will have no contingencies. It’s not a purchase plan to buy down the road, if everything falls into place,” Fisher said. “This developer is ready to buy this free and clear and proceed with the plan, and leave the school district in a position to walk away — free and clear in a positive way — and leave it in good hands for the building to go into its next life.”

In other action Monday, the school board heard preliminary information from Fisher regarding certified enrollment for 2018. Fisher told the board that enrollment in the district is up four students from last year, from 1,500 students to 1,504 students. Fisher stressed that the enrollment numbers are preliminary until all student information is verified and weightings calculated.

In other business Monday, the board:

— Accepted the 2018-19 annual report, presented by Business Manager Terri O’Brien, and approved the line item budget contained within the report, and also accepted the Sept. 2018 financial report. The entire annual report is available online at the Charles City School District’s website.

— Approved the hotel and registration expenses for Fisher to attend a human resources conference on Nov. 6-8 in Chicago. Expenses are $1,295 for registration, plus hotel costs.

— Approved an athletic training contract with Synergy Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine for $5,000 for the period Nov. 1, 2018, through May 31, 2019.

— Approved the 2018-19 Transitional Alliance Program contract with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services beginning Oct. 1, 2018, and ending Sept. 30, 2019.

— Accepted the personnel appointment of Melina Mena Davis, high school annual advisor, for $2,331, effective Sept. 24.

— Accepted the personnel appointment of Phillip Frenchik, middle school assistant drama, in the amount of $999, effective Oct. 18.

— Accepted personnel appointments of Melanie Johanningmeier ($100), Renae Boss ($100), Jacob Gassman ($100), Janeice Bergland ($500), Bethany Rhine ($600) and Tricia Baxter ($600) for various musical positions and set design for the high school musical, effective Oct. 8.

— Accepted the support staff transfer of Ammie Jopslin, middle school instructional assistant, to Lincoln Elementary.

— Accepted teacher contract financial increases due to additional graduate course work for the following teachers (amount of increase): Marie Conklin ($3,601), Caleb Davidson ($1,801), Rebecca Mead ($1,801), Phillip Frenchik ($1,801), Scotti Hagensick ($1,801), Jenn Hardy ($1,801), Julie Holub ($3,241), Erin Lyman ($3,241), Phoebe Pittman ($1,800), Jennifer Seehusen ($1,801), LeAnn Smith ($1,800), David Voives ($1,801), Laura Walker ($1,801).