Regent to buy school for $1

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Press File Photo The Regent School building, which has ceased to be used as of this summer, will be sold to the city for $1, officials say.

Talk about it

They say you can’t buy much for $1 these days, but Regent officials say the city will soon be purchasing a whole school for four quarters.

The Mott-Regent School District is selling the recently closed Regent School building to the city, with plans to use the gym for athletic practices and games.

“The city hasn’t actually taken it over yet,” Mayor Terry Hartman said.

After closing its doors on June 30, about 15 students began attending school in Mott.

“Everything’s going smooth,” said Myron Schweitzer, Mott-Regent School District superintendent. There are two bus routes and instead of stopping in Regent they go directly to Mott, Schweitzer added. There is also door-to-door pick up in Regent.

“This is more of a convenience for them this way than it was in the past,” he said.

Schweitzer said the gym is still being used for practices and a few junior high games. He added he’s heard a few complaints about bus riding time, but said other than that, it’s been a relatively easy transition.

Average time from the Regent to Mott is about 20 minutes, Schweitzer said.

The dollar selling price was to show that the school wasn’t giving it away, he added.

Last July, the Mott-Regent School Board voted to close the location which housed grades five through eight. They set an Aug. 1 deadline to close the school unless three positions were filled, then the site would remain open one more year.

They filled the posts and the school stayed open until June 30.

The school wants to rent the gym, Hartman said.

“I guess we haven’t gotten any big plans yet as far as what we’re going to do,” Hartman said. “I’m sure eventually we’ll have to have community meetings to see what the people would like to see.”

Hartman said plans are to use the school for summer centennial activities.

Schweitzer said a lot of equipment remains in the school and they haven’t sold anything, adding “We didn’t gut it out. That was a concern people had.”

Hartman said the city wants to keep the school in good shape and would make it available for events, such as family gatherings.

City auditor Karen Kouba said the papers should be signed within a month or so.

“They (Mott-Regent School District) just feel that the community of Regent built that school and has kept it going and they just want to work with the city giving it back to them,” she said.

Then they’ll exchange that single dollar bill.

“It’s gotta be legal,” Hartman said with a laugh.

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