Dover school district banks some land as officials mull facility upgrades
DOVER – The Dover School District has bought another property near Dover Middle School as officials are exploring options for facility upgrades.
Dover Superintendent Karie McCrate says the district is just starting to develop a master facilities plan, but if someday they’re able to build or expand, the middle school property is where they have space.
“While there is not a finalized plan, I don’t really see anything developing that wouldn’t in some way utilize the space at that middle school because of the land that the district has in front of and around it right now. I just don’t want to get ahead of myself because there’s not a finalized plan,” she said.
The district is purchasing the Pro-Print Business Center building and attached home at the corner of Wooster Avenue and East 21st Street for $440,000. McCrate says the district will demolish the buildings. That leaves just East of Chicago Pizza as the only property the district doesn’t own along Wooster Avenue on that side of the street between the City Park and 21st Street.
McCrate says she knows the district is making this purchase at a time when there are questions about potential reductions in state funding.
“… So I don’t want to seem naïve to that. But we know that when we have an opportunity to make a one-time investment like this in a purchase that just makes sense and likely will be a benefit at some point down the road. We have a responsibility to set this district up for success whether it’s in the near future or the distant future.”
McCrate says there will be community meetings this fall and winter before the district makes recommendations for facility upgrades.
“We know Dover Avenue [Elementary School] is more than 100 years old. All of our elementary and middle schools do not have air conditioning. We just need to look at how do we shape these buildings that are anywhere from 50-60 years old to more than 100 years old to schools that can serve this community into the future.”
The district in 2023 purchased property and a house along the middle school’s parking lot exit.