The Okaloosa County School Board is in the process of purchasing more property in Baker.
School District officials started looking at the 0.56-acre parcel after receiving word it was hitting the market, according to Bill Smith, the district’s director of facilities.
“It’s right there at our back door,” Smith said. “It’s the only parcel we don’t own.”
The property, which belongs to First Baptist Church, is surrounded on three sides by School District land and runs up along the bus ramp at Baker School, he said.
If all goes according to plan, the district will purchase the property at 1357 15th St. next month at market value for $100,000.
Prior to making the offer, the district surveyed the property, did an environmental study and checked out the building on the site..
Smith said the building, which the church used for a day-care center, could be used as soon as next school year for a couple programs at Baker School.
Although the budget is tight, Smith said it made sense to purchase the property. Not only will the School District control what happens on the land so close to the school, but the $100,000 price tag for the property and building is likely less than what the district would spend to build a similar structure, he said.
The School Board held a public hearing Monday night about the purchase, but no one from the public spoke. The four board members present voted to move forward with the sale as long an upcoming termite inspection didn’t turn up any issues.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.