6/20/14 - A lease agreement between the Pinckney School District and a local charter school has been approved. The district is closing Lakeland Elementary at the end of the school year as a way to compensate for declining enrollment and help save costs in the face of a looming deficit. For the past month, district officials have been in talks with Howellâs Kensington Woods Charter School, which is being forced to find a new location. With the boardâs approval last night, both parties have signed a lease agreement that will allow the charter school to take up residence in the former Lakeland building. The one-year lease begins on August 1st and has a base price of $140,000. The Pinckney School Board was initially hesitant to sell the land to prospective buyers because they might have installed a charter school at the site. However, Superintendent Rick Todd says the district is looking at Kensington as a partner moving forward rather than a competitor. He says the Pinckney district does an excellent job educating students, but Kensington Woods offers a unique learning opportunity for children, and that strong local schools make the community stronger as a whole. If Kensington Woods does not utilize the entire building, it is possible that the unused portions may be leased out to other parties. (TD)
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