Kaufman, Texas – The Kaufman County Commissioners' Court approved the sale of approximately 50.2 acres to the Kaufman Independent School District (ISD) last week in a split decision vote.
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Currently the Kaufman ISD is in the planning stages of building a new high school, according to Kaufman ISD Superintendent Lori Blaylock. The Kaufman ISD intends to use this land, which is immediately south of the O.P. Norman Junior High School and the Kaufman High School on South Houston Street/Farm-to-Market (FM) 1388, for the purposes of building the new high school.
The commissioners' court's vote approved the sale of the land to Kaufman ISD for $18,000 an acre, or $903,600, based on a 2012 appraisal. Precinct 2 Commissioner Ray Clark and Precinct 4 Commissioner Tom Manning voted for the measure while Precinct 1 Commissioner Jimmy Vrzalik and Precinct 3 Commissioner Kenneth Schoen voted against the measure. Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood provided the tie-breaking vote for the sale of the land.
Commissioners Vrzalik and Schoen both cited concerns the property was being undervalued while Commissioners Clark and Manning said it was a fair price because it was being sold to Kaufman ISD and for other economic benefits, reports the Kaufman Herald.
Although the district currently owns land on Highway 175, Blaylock says, “The board and I felt that the advantages to purchasing this property for a future high school outweighs the price of the land.”
Because of the property's proximity to the existing campuses and athletic facilities, the district will not have to rebuild athletic facilities which Blaylock says could save the district well over $22 million. The district will also save nearly $3 million when the time comes to build because of nearby access to utilities. The Kaufman ISD Ag barn is also currently located on the purchased property.
Phase 2 of the Highway 34 Bypass is also proposed to be constructed along the south side of the property and will “help with traffic flow and visibility,” said Blaylock. “Inexperienced high school drivers will not have to travel on Highway 175 to access the school.”
“I am pleased that the county agreed to sell the property to Kaufman ISD,” said Blaylock. “I believe this property will provide much needed space for district growth and expansion at the lowest possible cost to our community.”
The commissioners' court's vote approved the sale of the land to Kaufman ISD for $18,000 an acre, or $903,600, based on a 2012 appraisal. Precinct 2 Commissioner Ray Clark and Precinct 4 Commissioner Tom Manning voted for the measure while Precinct 1 Commissioner Jimmy Vrzalik and Precinct 3 Commissioner Kenneth Schoen voted against the measure. Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood provided the tie-breaking vote for the sale of the land.
Commissioners Vrzalik and Schoen both cited concerns the property was being undervalued while Commissioners Clark and Manning said it was a fair price because it was being sold to Kaufman ISD and for other economic benefits, reports the Kaufman Herald.
Although the district currently owns land on Highway 175, Blaylock says, “The board and I felt that the advantages to purchasing this property for a future high school outweighs the price of the land.”
Because of the property's proximity to the existing campuses and athletic facilities, the district will not have to rebuild athletic facilities which Blaylock says could save the district well over $22 million. The district will also save nearly $3 million when the time comes to build because of nearby access to utilities. The Kaufman ISD Ag barn is also currently located on the purchased property.
Phase 2 of the Highway 34 Bypass is also proposed to be constructed along the south side of the property and will “help with traffic flow and visibility,” said Blaylock. “Inexperienced high school drivers will not have to travel on Highway 175 to access the school.”
“I am pleased that the county agreed to sell the property to Kaufman ISD,” said Blaylock. “I believe this property will provide much needed space for district growth and expansion at the lowest possible cost to our community.”