Kelseyville Unified School district seeks proposals for Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Kelseyville Unified School District has begun the process of soliciting proposals from nonprofit groups interested in restoring and maintaining the historic Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse.
In April, the district’s board of trustees voted to donate the 148-year-old building to a nonprofit organization, as Lake County News has reported.
When the board next met on May 21, it approved the request for proposal process developed by Superintendent Dave McQueen that nonprofits must follow to acquire the schoolhouse.
Board President Rick Winer said at the meeting that it’s the board’s intention that the building continues to benefit the community, and “That it’s accessible to the community and that it’s in much better condition than it currently is.”
The building, which is roughly about 850 square feet, has suffered neglect in recent years.
It was last roofed thanks to the county of Lake – in particular, then-County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox – in 2011, but since then it has suffered broken siding, which has allowed birds to nest inside the walls, paint is coming off the building in large chunks and board members were unaware at the May meeting that two of the windows recently had been broken.
The request for proposal process the board approved has two options – keeping the structure at its location on Finley Road East, where it was moved in 1882, or moving it to another location.
Nonprofits interested in submitting proposals have until 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 31.
One of the key requirements is that the building, if moved, must remain within the boundaries of the Kelseyville Unified School District.
The request for proposal process also requires verification of nonprofit status, the proposed final use of the building, a proposed schedule to receive ownership of the schoolhouse, identification of the proposed final destination of the building, a detail of the proposed methodology for and qualifications to relocate by a licensed removal company, a proposed budget for relocation or maintenance of the building, a detail of the ongoing maintenance of the schoolhouse if it remains on the district-owned property in Finley and proof of general liability insurance in specified amounts.
The process also addresses the potential for the school district to need to weigh in on the transfer of the interest in the building should the nonprofit that receives it come to a point where it needs to hand off ownership.
Winer said on May 21 that, in such a case, the matter would need to return to the full board for a decision.
Should the building be granted to an organization that moves it, Winer said the district would continue to own the land and would make a decision about that property at a future time.
For more information, contact Kelseyville Unified Superintendent Dave McQueen at 707-279-1511.
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