Franklin schools purchase additional land around new high school campus
Franklin City School District recently completed the purchase of land adjacent to its new high school campus as it looks to the future.
The school district has spent $1.6 million over the past few months to purchase five parcels of land along East Sixth, Anderson and East Seventh streets. Those specific parcels include the Save-a-Lot market property on East Sixth Street and an adjacent empty lot, 614 Anderson St., 618 Anderson St., and 103 E. Seventh St.
Superintendent Michael Sander said the district is excited for the opportunity to create a cohesive high school campus as well as plan for the future. He said the district is proud to be a part of the continued development and growth throughout the community.
“Buying land gives us room to grow if the district’s anticipated enrollment increase requires us to expand. For now, we’ll clear the properties and use the space as practice fields,” Sander said.
“The district used permanent improvement funds for the property purchases,” Sander said.
He said the Board of Education wants to assure the public that no bond issue monies or general fund monies were used to purchase the land.
“As we promised voters, all of the bond issue funds are dedicated to constructing the new high school, renovating the current high school into a middle school, and building the new bus garage,” he said.
The district closed on the lot next to the district’s bus garage and the Save-a-Lot property in August and two other properties on Anderson and East Seventh streets in October. Sander said no action will be taken on those properties as the current leases on the residential and commercial properties run through June 30, 2022.