The sale of the old Bemidji High School property to the Bemidji State University Foundation is one step closer to becoming a reality.
"We received a purchase agreement from the Bemidji State University Foundation," Superintendent Jim Hess reported Monday night at the Bemidji School Board meeting. "This is a formal document, a legal document, to acquire the property from Independent School District 31."
He said the school district received the agreement Feb. 7.
"We are analyzing the purchase agreement," he added.
In July 2005, the board agreed in principle to sell about 11 acres of the property -- including the A Building and auditorium -- to the foundation. Adjacent to BSU, the property is located on the corner of 15th Street Northwest and Bemidji Avenue North.
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According to previous discussions, the foundation would buy two parcels for $1 each and a third parcel, which includes the school district's maintenance building, for $575,000, as well as pay for related abatement and demolition. BSU is currently seeking $2 million from the state Legislature to reimburse the foundation for the proposed acquisition.
On Monday night, Hess said the formal purchase agreement contains many of the elements included in previous talks.
"There are a few stipulations in this, however, that the district will want to seriously consider," Hess said.
The board may discuss the purchase agreement in a closed meeting Friday morning. No formal action, however, will be taken at that time, Hess said.
He noted that the board will consider input from the school district's attorney, director of business services and himself on the elements of the purchase agreement.
"This is a good sign," board chair John Pugleasa noted of the purchase agreement's arrival.
"It's important that we finish this business," Hess added. "We need to take care of the best interest of the school district and the taxpayers, and also the best interest of the university and the foundation."
