The Prescott School District is accepting proposals on 14.6 acres of land it may be willing to sell.

The heavily wooded parcel is landlocked and located east of Dexter Street and just to the south and east of the First National Bank Fields where Cardinal teams play softball.

Superintendent Dr. Rick Spicuzza said the district was approached over the summer about whether the land could be purchased.

“A specific individual in the community asked if there would ever be consideration of selling that property the Prescott School District owns,” Spicuzza said at the Wednesday, Oct. 18 school board meeting. “We currently have no structure on this property. We don’t use it for athletics or future consideration.”

He said a deep ravine would make the property near impossible for the district to use.

“It’s not accessible from our property,” he said. “There’s a huge ravine.”

He said the district discussed it in closed session over the summer and the board voiced the opinion that there should be an open bidding process, and the district then can weigh offers.

Neighboring property owners were contacted, and the district has a request for proposals under the school board portion of its website. Proposals are due by Nov. 13.

Bidders need to offer a purchase price, amount of earnest money deposit and any contingencies, according to the RFP.

The property is currently zoned for mixed residential use. The district “reserves the right to reject any letter of intent, to make counter-offers, and to accept any responses or portions thereof that may be the most advantageous,” the RFP states.

Spicuzza said that if the property is sold, money could be earmarked toward next year’s school district budget.

“It is very unique in where it’s located. There’s not a lot of specific uses,” Spicuzza said. “It’s a wooded area. It’s beautiful land. It is something that may be useful to many people in the community.”

Board President Mike Matzek said the district is working to be “as transparent as possible” in the bidding process.

“It’s important the public knows this. Nothing is etched in stone. Nothing is decided,” he said. “We know there’s one person interested, because we were approached. That’s what kickstarted this in the summer.”
Board members agreed with the rationale to seek bids.

“In my opinion, this is unusable property for us,” said Pat Block.

“This piece of property, we can’t build anything on it. The access is really difficult. It’s not currently being used. It’s an asset we’re basically just sitting on and aren’t using,” said Vicki Rudolph.