The possibility of the School District of Rhinelander buying the former St. Joseph's Catholic Church and school property came a bit closer this week.
The school board asked realtor Ron Skagen to draft an offer to purchase the property not to exceed $649,000. Superintendent Kelli Jacobi outlined to the board some options...
"....I went through what a possible reconfiguration would look like, why we have a need for additional space. Then we talked about, 'why did we sell buildings if we were going to need space?'..."
Several years ago, after some failed referendums, the district sold off some schools because the district couldn't afford to update the aging schools...
"..at the meeting the board authorized me to work with the realtor and draft an offer with the appropriate contingencies attached. Once that is prepared, there will be another special board meeting where they will make the final decision if they make that offer...."
The district is in need of classroom space. Jacobi said at the meeting Crescent and Pelican schools are at their limit of space, and space is tight at Central Intermediate School. The St. Joseph's property came available after a renovation was finished at Nativity of Our Lord church near city hall.
