Old school appraisal comes in low

An appraisal of Center Elementary School and the surrounding property came in surprisingly low, the Grand Coulee Dam School District board learned Monday night.

Superintendent Dennis Carlson said an independent appraiser valued the school building and the overall 7.43 acres at $190,000.

Earlier, the layout had been listed at 8.5 acres, but the appraiser found an error in the property calculation.

“It won’t go for that, and we expect it to be much more,” Carlson said. He pointed out that many of the lots above the school have excellent views.

The property will go up for a sealed bid sale with the deadline for receiving bids June 20.

“Government buildings such as the school building itself traditionally have low values,” Carlson said. “But the land has a certain value, and the successful bidder will have to come up with a plan of how the property can be developed.”

The district acquired the property from Continental Land Company for $155,000 earlier this year.

The school district had use of the building and property as long as it was used for a school, with the provision that when it ceased to be used as a school it reverted back to Continental Land Company.

By law the district will have to get at least 90 percent of the appraised value.