By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Kansas Legislature accomplished several things when it passed Senate Bill 113 last May, including improving school safety, supporting the teacher workforce, and investing in early childhood education. Another component of that bill gave the state legislature first right of refusal on the purchase of property to be sold by school districts. Monday night, USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton began the new process to sell three properties owned by the Great Bend school district.
"Really, this just checks the box off for the legislature on the new statute that was passed in order to dispose of a building," he told the board. "Is there a chance the legislature will want one or all of these buildings? Sure. But I highly doubt it. There's discussion this law may be adjusted to only take in attendance centers so that these kind of buildings would not be considered under this."
The resolution passed Monday by the board includes the former central kitchen building at 2201 Broadway, the former maintenance and transportation building at 2019 12th Street, and the current district office at 201 S. Patton. The kitchen and maintenance departments have been moved into the Support Services Building on East 10th Street. The district office will move into the new District Education Center along the 281 Bypass.
"I figured because the way the timing is with our legislature, I'd like to go ahead and include the current district office in that list," said. "By the time we get out of here, it will be closer to summer, but then that would mean we have to hold this building until January 2025 before we can sell it."
With the adoption of the resolution Monday, the district has 30 days to submit a letter of intent to the Kansas Legislature. The governing body will have 45 days once it reconvenes in January to decide whether it is interested in the property, not interested, or needs more time to make a decision. Monday's resolution does not say when the properties must be sold, just that the district intends to sell them.