Friday, February 17, 2006

Board sees plan for two new schools


By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer

The Blaine County School District board of trustees reviewed conceptual plans this week for two new schools located south of Bellevue. The plans come as a result of proposed annexations that could significantly increase Blaine County's student population.

Property owners Harry Rinker and John Scherer have proposed the city of Bellevue annex a combined set of properties that measure 550 acres. The properties are located south of the Muldoon Ranch subdivision, east of Gannett Road, north of the Griffin Ranch subdivision, and west of the foothills owned primarily by the Bureau of Land Management. Current ownership of the two properties is split between Rinker and Scherer.

At the meeting Tuesday, Feb. 14, John Gaeddert, a planning consultant representing the city of Bellevue, said the development proposal calls for 1,000 units.

The developers have proposed to designate a joint portion of their properties for use by the Blaine County School District for future schools.

District Superintendent Jim Lewis showed the board a conceptual rendering, which he said will be used in future public meetings.

The tentative layout uses renderings of the new Woodside Elementary School and Wood River Middle School, with a plaza connecting the schools, playing fields and tennis courts. The schools are placed on the same 50-acre parcel to encourage efficiencies, such as shared parking, shared fields and busing.

"It does provide efficiencies for us. It does provide a park and green space for Bellevue," Lewis said.

Lewis said he has requested a meeting with the city of Bellevue to discuss a future relationship regarding the property. He said field use could be similar to that of Atkinson Park in Ketchum.

"That is going to be a huge asset for the community," board member Kim Nilsen said.




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