District 196 looks to purchase Apple Valley building
District 196 is considering purchasing a 28,000 square-foot bulding in Apple Valley that houses its Area Learning Center. The buidling is also home to the district’s Transition Plus and Pathway programs. - Photo by Jessica Harper
For past five years, school district has leased the building for its Area Learning Center, other programs
Officials at District 196 are considering purchasing a 28,0000-square-foot building in Apple Valley to save money.
The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District has leased the building for the past five years for its Area Learning Center.
The School Board agreed in a closed session April 2 to send a purchase offer to the facility’s owner, AVP Developers.
“The board wanted to discuss what they feel is a fair amount without giving the owner an unfair advantage,” said Jeff Solomon, director of finance and operation in District 196.
Solomon wouldn’t say how much the district is willing to pay for the facility or how much it could save.
To date, the district pays $380,000 in rent annually as well as $112,000 in taxes. It is also responsible for maintenance.
The building — located near the intersection of County Road 42 and Johnny Cake Ridge Road in Apple Valley — houses several programs and nearly 300 students.
It is used for the district’s Area Learning Center, Transition Plus and Pathway.
Transition Plus and Pathway help young adults with special needs transition from school to adult life.
These programs would stay put if the building is purchased by the district.
The Board didn’t cast a vote on the issue Monday. A decision will likely be made later this spring, Solomon said.
The facility was built between 2005 and 2006 for the district by AVP Developers.
District 196 moved its programs into the building in 2006 and agreed to lease it til 2016.
At the time, the district’s lease on another facility had expired, and the new building seemed to be a temporary solution until officials could decide whether to move the programs back into other buildings.
“We determined the old facility was not ideal for those programs,” Solomon said.
Although enrollment has declined in recent years, the district’s existing buildings don’t have enough space, he said.
