District 742 Showing Support for Tech Donation Proposal

ST. CLOUD -- District 742's School Board is showing early support for the proposal from St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis to donate the current Technical High School and land to the city.

At Wednesday night's board meeting, Kleis and District Superintendent Willie Jett gave a presentation of their proposal to the board. The presentation echoed the one Kleis and Jett gave at the St. Cloud City Council meeting Monday.

Kleis and Jett are both in agreement that the city is better equipped to handle re-developing the century-old school. Kleis pointed out the city's options of Tax Increment Financing, and rezoning parts of the land, specifically the media center, to help cover the cost of re-developing.

The goal is to have the letter of intent drafted by the end of January, so the city, community, and district could start officially planning for the school's future in the spring. Kleis hopes to have that plan in place by the end of 2018.

Neither the board or city council has voted in favor of anything yet.