The Lincoln County School District has announced the purchase of a new location for its central office and transportation maintenance facility.

The LCSD School Board voted Thursday to purchase the former Keystone Electrical Manufacturing Company building in the Linbrook Business Park. The 54,000 square foot building was constructed in 2017 and is located on 12 acres.

“Previous LCSD board members and superintendents helped plan for this district expansion by putting the LCSD in a strong financial situation to allow for future property acquisitions and renovations to accommodate district needs,” said Superintendent David Martin. “We are proud to say that time has come.”

The district’s current transportation facility is outdated, Martin said, and located in a residential area of the city. It needs major structural and mechanical renovations. Bus dimensions have changed but the facility has not, creating issues for mechanics. The new location will also allow for safer access for buses to enter and exit the property.

Although the LCSD central office is located at the corner of East Monticello and North Second streets, many staff members’ offices have been relocated to school sites and downtown rental offices due to space restrictions. In addition, the district only owns the parking directly in front of the building on the street — First Baptist Church owns the additional parking area and has allowed the district to use it. Storage units have also been rented to accommodate needs

“As a district, it is a better long-term investment to own property versus using the district’s funds for rental property,” Martin said.

The new facility will require some renovations to meet the district’s specific needs. Immediate needs and plans will not utilize the entire space, but the property will allow room for future growth and development.

“The purchase and renovation of this existing building versus new construction will be a tremendous cost savings to the district,” Martin said. “We are very excited about this opportunity and look forward to improving all facilities.”