Lansing School Board OK’s Sale Negotiations for Eastern

The Lansing School District will begin negotiating the sale of Eastern High School to Sparrow Health Systems. According to the Lansing State Journal, Lansing's Board of Education gave the official nod to Superintendent Yvonne Caamal-Canul to begin talks on Thursday night.

The deal would provide LSD with the Eastern facility for five years at no cost. Eventually, Sparrow plans to demolish a portion of a building to make room for a new professional and education center. The district and Sparrow would also embark on a joint effort to provide LSD students with an academy that focuses on biotechnology and STEM curriculum.

However, the district's plans for life after Eastern is still undetermined. In February, the district will ask voters to approve a $120 million millage proposal. Under the proposal, the district would use the money to renovate current buildings, and upgrade the current Pattengill Middle School, which would eventually become the new Lansing Eastern.

The Lansing State Journal story notes that Sparrow's bid of $2.475 million was almost $1 million more than the only other bid, put forth by the Capital Area Housing Partnership.