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CCS, OSU Agree On Sale Terms For Indianola MS Property

After a months-long delay, the Columbus City Schools have once again agreed to sell Indianola Middle School to Ohio State University.  Alison Holm has more.  

Despite seven months of negotiations between the school district and the University, there were still several details to work out in the $2.35 million dollar deal to sell to historic 1929 building and its seven and a half acre lot.

OSU has not decided what it wants to do with the property, but says they do not plan to establish a k-12 school. However, school board members wanted to make sure that they would be partners with OSU in any educational programs offered on the site. During the negotiations the language of partnership had changed. Last September the proposal declared CCS ‘would work as partner’ in program development. The proposal presented last night said only that the district would be “considered” for a partnership. Under prodding from board member Eric Brown, OSU VP for Community Relations Trudy Bartley agreed to include language that the district would be a “preferred partner” in program development. Board member Dominic Paretti says the intention was not to dictate to OSU…

 

“I just wasn’t supportive of putting a welcome mat out in the district for charter schools. I want us. I don’t want to tell you what to do, I just want us to be a partner with you.”

 

OSU officials also agreed to pay the district a monthly maintenance fee of $9,000 until the closing, provided that the district itemize how that money is spent.

 

Several dozen people, including representatives of the Columbus Landmarks Foundation and the University District Association, as well as residents of Clintonville and Weinland Park were on hand, to urge the district to move forward with the sale.  

A native of Chicago, naturalized citizen of Cincinnati and resident of Columbus, Alison attended Earlham College and the Ohio State University. She has equal passion for Midwest history, hockey and Slavic poetry.
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