The White County Board of Education has approved the purchase of nearly 15 acres of land adjacent to the White County High School for the future construction of a performing arts center.
Dr. Laurie Burkett, superintendent for the White County School System, said at the board's meeting Thursday night that school system officials had been talking about a performing arts center for the school, but there was no place for the facility to go. Burkett said they talked with property owners surrounding the school and the piece of property the district will buy fits the need perfectly.
"We contacted the individual that owned the property and started to work through the process," Burkett said. "All that property is usable to us; it’s a perfect piece, so we’re super excited,”
The cost of the 14.91 acres, which is located on the north side of the school, is $262,000. The school system will use funds from the sale of property it owned on Duncan Bridge Road to pay for it.
Burkett and Board Vice-chair Charlie Thomas praised the fact the previous board made the decision in 2017, when the Duncan Bridge property was sold, to set the money aside for something like this.
"This is a terrific purchase, just what we need," Thomas said.
The closing date on the property has not been set, but Burkett said she hopes it will be in the next month.
