The Culver Community Schools Corporation continues to move ahead with the process of selling the Monterey School Building. The corporation is required to get at least two appraisals before the building can officially be put up for sale.
Interim Superintendent Chuck Kitchell told the school board Monday he’s currently scheduling appraisals with two different companies. “I don’t know how quick they can get out there, but we’ve got two that are at least interested and willing to go and appraise for us,” he said. “The unfortunate thing is one of the gentlemen said, ‘It’s not going to be worth anything!’ I said, ‘Well, that might be true, but we have to do this, so what are you going to charge us and let me know when you can get it done.'”
Kitchell said he’s been working with the corporation’s treasurer to figure out how the corporation is going to pay for the appraisals. He said they had been trying to get the money from the corporation’s Capital Projects Fund, but it doesn’t look like that idea will work.
Once the appraisals are done, the corporation can decide whether to hold a public auction or accept bids for the property. School officials hope the corporation will see some significant cost savings by selling the former Monterey Elementary School. Currently, Culver Schools spends about $50,000 a year on maintenance and insurance costs for the vacant building.
