School Board Approves Final Documents To Sell Old Molino School To County

June 18, 2009

The Escambia County School Board has given official approval to the contract selling the old Molino Elementary School building to Escambia County — a move that will bring a library and community center to the growing community.

The Escambia County commission has already approved the purchase of the building for $400,000 from the Escambia County School Board. The county has attempted to acquire the old Molino Elementary property from the school board for several months.

The school campus includes 9.66 acres and four buildings — the largest of which is 16,630 square feet.

Plans call for the old Molino school to become a community hub, possibly including a 5,000 square foot library, a museum highlighting Molino history, a small health clinic, a business incubator, renovation of the cafeteria and one additional building for community events and private party rental along with other uses.

The library portion of the project is currently ranked number three in Florida for a half million dollars in funding from the state. The grant, if awarded, would require the county to use the facility as a library in Molino for a minimum of 20 years.

The half million dollar grant, if awarded, would be matched by another half million from the county. The county’s portion is already approved, using Local Option Sales Tax funds.

The Molino school closed in 2003 when the new Molino Park Elementary School consolidated Molino Elementary and Barrineau Park Elementary. The school, which sits on nine acres along County Road 95A, first opened in 1939.

The funds will be used by the school board in their Local Capital Improvement Fund.

Comments

3 Responses to “School Board Approves Final Documents To Sell Old Molino School To County”

  1. Glenna on June 22nd, 2009 8:39 am

    Let us hope that they stick to the library plan! None of this ECAT. We need something for the kids to do here in the northern end of the county. And a library is a very good thing. Thank you!

  2. girlie on June 19th, 2009 6:20 am

    i think it will be a hit for the north end. there is nothing out there for the younge kids to do. and it will be well used. with a lot of the local parents ready to help provide a safe place for the kids to have a place to go and do some group activities.

  3. INSTIGATOR on June 18th, 2009 5:47 am

    yea!! finally. i cant wait to have a real library in molino. this is a wonderful thing for our children. i hope the timeline in opening it wont be too long. maybe there will be jobs in helping build it up

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News