Seabeck Elementary surplus process moving along

Decision could come Oct. 8.

The fate of a three-parcel piece of land in Seabeck where the closed Seabeck Elementary School stands is slowly taking shape.

It appears the property, owned by the Central Kitsap School District, will be put on the market for surplus. When, how and to whom is uncertain.

David McVicker, executive director of business and operations for the district, recommended Wednesday that the CKSD Board of Directors surplus the property by combining its three legal methods of sale — putting the property up for bid, hiring a real estate agent or negotiating with another government entity.

“This is almost an opportunity to throw things wide open,” he said.

By combining its options, McVicker said, the district could invite all interested parties to make offers, establish a timeframe for the process, receive offers from public and private parties, and allow the board to weigh its options based on previously determined criteria.

All of that, however, could lead to complex options and difficult decisions.

“If you’ve got options coming to you from different venues ... it could become a more difficult situation,” McVicker said.

Because a hybrid surplus could present complexities, the district more than likely will hire legal counseling.

“What this means to me is a very, very intense level of management,” Lynch said. “It’s going to require lots of time, there’s no doubt about that.”

McVicker presented a tentative timeline for the process, marking Oct. 8 as a date the board could consider a resolution to declare the surplus.

Carl Johnson, board president, said the board should be meticulous and focus on making the right choices rather than a quick decision.

“I think it’s important we take the amount of time necessary so the community feels like it’s fully engaged,” Johnson said.

Lynch said it’s in the district’s best interest to have the process complete before the 2009-10 budget is developed.

“I think the timeline gets us to where we need to be,” he said.

District officials say the final decision should be revenue positive, consider facility needs throughout the district, minimize impact to the general fund, maximize revenue to the capital projects fund and be a good steward of district and community resources.

Lynch added that the community’s input will factor into the process, with the district wanting to be “transparent.”

“Trying to easily explain that to the community is something we need to consider,” he said.

Contact Central Kitsap Reporter Sports writer Wesley Remmer at sports@centralkitsapreporter.com or (360) 308-9161.

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