The Greene County board of education at its May 20 meeting approved the sale of the Rippey school property to the city of Rippey for $1.
The sale includes the gymnasium, garage and adjoining property. The school will retain the sole rights to use the gym and garage for as long as the school desires, and all associated costs (utilities, liability insurance, etc) will be paid by the school.
The school board also agreed to reimburse the city of Rippey for half the cost of property insurance. The current insurance estimate is $2,373, making the school district’s share less than $1,200. The school also agreed to repair the roof at an estimated cost of $15,000, and cover the exposed block wall on the west end of the gym with siding at an estimated cost of $11,000.
The city will mow the grounds and the school will take care of snow removal.
The school intends to use the gym for practices and sub-varsity games. The gym was renovated a year ago for that purpose. Demolition of the three-story classroom structure was completed last fall.
The former East Greene board of education, before it dissolved last June with the reorganization of the East Greene and Jefferson-Scranton districts, had asked that the city of Rippey be given first purchase rights on the property. The sale will meet the school’s intent of having a gymnasium to use, while assuring that when the facility is no longer needed by the school, cit city will have control of it and the surrounding property.
