By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
The potential sale of the Happy Valley Elementary School property, and the building itself, was the sole topic of discussion at the Feb. 26 special-called meeting of the Glasgow Independent Schools Board of Education.
Previously, on Feb. 10, the board members voted — through Superintendent Chad Muhlenkamp’s work with the Kentucky Department of Education –to declare Happy Valley as surplus property.
After a brief closed session, board member Barret Lessenberry made the motion to “authorize [Muhlenkamp] to execute all closing documents” pertaining to the sale of Happy Valley school stipulating that “the appraisal of the property meets the approval of [the education department] and that the sale of the property is ‘as is.’”
“Under regs and rules the Kentucky Department of Education has to determine a fair market value based on an appraisal the district acquires to determine what offers may be accepted for consideration,” Muhlenkamp said. “We get the appraisal [then] we sent it to [the department and the department] helps us determine what they would constitute a fair market value for that property, and based upon that…then we’re allowed to accept or [the department] says ‘no that’s not fair market value’ and its rejected.”
“The appraisal is to make sure we’re getting fair market value, and we’re not just disposing of something willy-nilly,” he added.
Muhlenkamp said the department of education would likely take at least two weeks, at which time the specifics would be made public.
“We technically don’t have an offer that’s allowed to be accepted yet,” Muhlenkamp said. “If we disclose [the specifics] publicly [right now] and KDE comes back and says ‘that’s not allowed’ it could impact future market components…everything’s contingent upon having a conversation with [the department].”
“Once it’s been approved [and] we have the appraisal then we’ll be at liberty to release that information,” Board Attorney Thomas Davis said.
Davis said the possible sale would not have to go before the board since Muhlenkamp was authorized. He confirmed there was one individual that has “expressed serious interest.”
“If any of those three conditions aren’t met, it’s a no go,” Muhlenkamp said.
