Verity School

From the Journal...

Verity school heads to auction block

MIDDLETOWN —
Board members are hoping the former George M. Verity Middle School on Johns Road can be sold and redeveloped, and not abandoned like two other former school buildings the district previously owned.

The board voted Monday night to auction the school and the nearly 59 acres it sits on, but unlike the original proposal, the district will auction the property in three options: a 38-acre plot, a 21-acre plot or the entire property. Board members said they believe dividing the property may make it more attractive to potential investors, while George Long, the district’s business manager, said it has “more value” as one parcel.

There was much debate among board members, but everyone agreed the property near Lefferson Park and Freedom Court needs to be occupied, unlike the former Amanda and Lincoln schools that were vacant for several years and became neighborhood eye scores after they were sold. Board President Marcia Andrew said even after the properties were sold, the public perception was the district still owned the buildings.

Long said the property and the school building have been appraised at $740,000 by Integra Realty Resources in Cincinnati. He said if the school was demolished, the acreage would be worth about $250,000, according to the appraisal.

As dictated by law, after the property was appraised, it was offered to charter and community schools, but there was no interest, Long said. He said since the land isn’t part of the district’s master plan, it should be auctioned, which would eliminate the “minimal” cost of maintaining the property. He said all power has been turned off in the school, but vandals sometimes try to enter the building. Middletown police have been called to the school three times on intruder calls this year, according to Middletown Division of Police records.

The 77,000-square-foot school was constructed in 1968 and a 2,588-square-foot media center was added in 1993, Long said. Years ago, the district considered moving the high school and junior high to that site. On Nov. 7, 2005, the district purchased an additional 20 acres for $400,000, according to the Butler County Auditor’s office. Long said after the 2008 recession, the district lost money on the property.

Verity was closed in 2012 when the district consolidated the two middle schools and opened the Highview Sixth Grade Center as a budget-reducing move.

Long said after reviewing the bids at auction, the board would vote whether to accept any of the bids. He has had several discussions with potential buyers of the property, though he didn’t want to disclose those businesses or organizations. He said groups interested in the property should contact the district. He expects the auction to take place within the next two months.

NEW MEDIA CENTER BUILT IN 1993- DIDN'T GET MUCH OUT OF THAT MONEY SPENT, DID WE?

THEY PURCHASED ADDITIONAL PROPERTY AND ENDED UP LOSING MONEY ON THE TRANSACTION. WHAT ELSE IS NEW WITH REGARD TO PEOPLE RUNNING THIS CITY?

SCHOOL IS 46 YEARS OLD, NOT OLD BY BUILDING STANDARDS, YET WE HAVE TO HAVE A NEW ONE BUILT OUT BY THE HIGH SCHOOL TO GIVE US THAT "CAMPUS LOOK". THERE IS ACREAGE TO EXPAND THIS SCHOOL IF NEEDED BUT THAT IS IRRELEVANT AT THIS POINT.

IT IS OVER AND DONE WITH, BUT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS BUILDING COULDN'T HAVE BEEN USED FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, GIVEN THE SITUATION. NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE EXTRA TAXPAYER MONEY SPENT ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ONE....THE SCHOOL BOARD AND FRIENDS JUST WANT ALL NEW, AS IF THAT WILL MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE ON THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THE EDUCATION PROCESS. NEW BUILDINGS, NO QUALITY CONTENT.

I'M BETTING THERE WILL BE NO TAKERS, ESPECIALLY AT THE PRICE LISTED, AND THEY WILL WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON THE DEMOLITION IN A YEAR OR TWO. LIKE THE CITY, THE SCHOOL PEOPLE ENJOY DESTROYING THINGS WITH YOUR MONEY.

FRUSTRATING TO SEE NO CHANGE IN THE THINKING WITHIN THE CITY. THE WHEEL OF INEPTNESS KEEPS TURNING AS WE SIT BACK AND WATCH THE CARNAGE DONE TO THE CITY.

Heard that it may be purchased by a church

Yet another church wanting to act like a mega-church and have their sprawling campus and waste a ton of land. Priorities people!

No--I was only talking about the local school
My source was definite bug could be incorrect
If so sorry for the confusion

It was my understanding that Berachah Baptist Church was interested in the property.  They are the church currently meeting at MHS.  

Vet: from the article: "...a state grant will be used to pay for each of the $500 systems, and he hopes to recoup the $500 the district spent on a similar system last year at Rosa Parks Elementary School." Further, "Anthony Comer, the first-year principal at Rosa Parks, agreed. He called the camera and audio system an “added measure” to the district’s security. He said there haven’t been any issues at the school this year, and there are “response teams” in place to assure no visitors can get beyond the office."   just 1chmoore

Miss Kitty: those were upgraded and expanded in the summer of 2013. just 1chmoore

Vet: I think that the article is saying that Rosa Parks got a system last year (for $500) on their own; now the district is getting the other nine buildings done (at $500 each) with a grant from the state. Long is hoping that the district will be reimbursed for the $500 that was spent at Rosa Parks. Once again, 1chmoore.   

"Apparently, technology has progressed in the last eight years to a better system."

BUT COMER'S COMMENTS STATE THAT THE SYSTEM WAS JUST BOUGHT LAST YEAR, NOT EIGHT YEARS AGO. THE STORY ELUDES TO THE NEW SYSTEM REPLACING A YEAR OLD SYSTEM, DOESN'T IT? WHICH IS CORRECT, THE REPLACED SYSTEM IS EIGHT YEARS OLD OR ONE?

DO PEOPLE WHO OWN HOMES REPLACE SECURITY SYSTEMS EACH YEAR? IN EIGHT YEARS? DUNNO, BUT DON'T BELIEVE THEY DO. THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE AN EXPENDITURE THAT IS IN EXCESS OF THE NORM AS TO THE LONGEVITY OF SECURITY SYSTEM OFFERS IMO. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW THE SCHOOLS ACT LIKE THE DAM GOVERNMENT AND WASTE MONEY ON UNNEEDED THINGS PERHAPS?

Vet: again, from the article: "A Middletown school official believes installing new security systems in the 10 district buildings “sends the right message” to the students, staff and community.

George Long, the district’s business manager, said the district is purchasing nine security units that will be installed this winter. He told school board members at Monday’s meeting that a state grant will be used to pay for each of the $500 systems, and he hopes to recoup the $500 the district spent on a similar system last year at Rosa Parks Elementary School." Where is the confusion?   just 1chmoore

To un-hijack this thread back to the original topic, I'm still wondering how there can be a nearly FIVE MILLION DOLLAR difference between what the county says the property and buildings are worth and what the realtor that MCSD consulted says it is worth.