Laura Becker of Willmar told me "The Willmar School District is in the business of education, so they should educate the public about the sale of Garfield." Garfield Elementary was built by the WPA in 1930, and is reportedly in very good shape and houses the district's Alternative Learning Center. Across town, Lincoln Elementary stands empty. The district has an offer by an unnamed group to buy Garfield, and if it happens, the ALC would be moved to Lincoln which would have some costs associated with it. The potential sale has the potential for some anger and ugliness. First of all, I've heard the rumours of who wants to buy Garfield. I've had those rumours confirmed, off the record, so at this point I'm not ready to betray the trust of my sources and reveal who it is. I've tried to contact a group to get public confirmation, but they have not returned my phone calls or emails. School Board Member Wayne "Lenny" Lenzmeier has said they can't reveal the group or the purchase offer because they are still negotiating. In fact, the board will hold a closed meeting Tuesday to discuss making a counter-offer. Laura Becker, who lives in the Garfield area, wonders why the sale of a publicly-owned building is being kept private, and wants more transparency in the process. She, too, has heard the rumours of who is interested in Garfield. She says a change in the use of the building could affect her property values. Becker is also concerned about what is planned for September 12th. The district will hold a public hearing on the closing of Garfield, and then the board will meet, and the sale would be an action item on the agenda, with no further opportunity for public input. Becker says that gives the public no time to put in their two-cents worth or have any questions answered. This has the potential to test the mettle of our superintendant, the school board, and even the Mayor and Willmar City Council. After the Open Mike Show with Superintendant Kjergaard and Lenzmeier last week, a caller said selling Garfield may have a negative impact on the district's operating levy referendum in November. What might happen is the sale is rejected, in which case we go back to having a building sitting vacant, still neeing to be heated and maintained, and generating no money for the school district and it's taxpayers. And the potential buyers of Garfield without a facility they no-doubt were looking forward to serving their purposes. Stay tuned...
