EDWARDSPORT — The old East Elementary and Junior High School building here is still waiting for the right person to come along and buy it.
The state gave the North Knox School Corp. its approval to sell the building, which has been empty for years, almost two years ago.
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Typically, if a corporation determines the property is no longer needed for school purposes, it can be sold, but corporations are required to wait for two years to see if a charter school or other educational institution is interested in using it.
North Knox had been using the building's gymnasium while the new $4.8 million auxiliary gym at North Knox Junior/Senior High School was being built. After the new gym opened in January, the corporation no longer needed the building.
Earlier in 2015, school officials had asked the state to waive that two-year requirement so the building could be put on the market sooner.
When news of the state's waiver came through, at least one individual had expressed interest in purchasing the building. The price tag, superintendent Darrel Bobe said then, was negotiable in hopes that a buyer would come calling.
Bobe noted on Tuesday that there have been no updates regarding the building's vacancy or any potential buyers.
“We're just waiting for the proper person to come along who would like to do something with that piece of property,” he said.
In the mean time, North Knox continues to be responsible for the building's upkeep, just like it has been since the school officially closed a few years ago. The alarm system is still up and running as well.
The old Edwardsport school opened in 1956 and served as Edwardsport High School until the consolidation and formulation of the NKSC.
It was closed in 2011 after a decade of discussion on consolidation, resulting from declining enrollment and a reduction in state funding.
When all was said and done, North Knox decided the money it would spend on maintenance at the facility would be better spent on students.
At the time, the building needed roof repairs that would cost about $1 million.
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