BELLVILLE ISD PLANS PURCHASE OF DOWNTOWN WELLS FARGO BUILDING

  

Bellville ISD is seeking to provide its students an opportunity to connect to local commerce.

The district is currently pursuing a contract to purchase the Wells Fargo building on the downtown square.  The facility, which would be called the Bellville ISD Center for Leadership and Learning, would house a student-run store and restaurant, the school museum, several classes and the administration offices.

Bellville ISD Superintendent Dr. Nicole Poenitzsch said the district wanted a space to share what students learn with the community.

 

The purchase of the facility, which is expected to cost $2 million in total through purchase and renovation, will be funded through the sale or lease of district-owned land.

The Wells Fargo building will not be included in the fall 2021 bond proposal.  However, according to Dr. Poenitzsch, the district was able to lower the price of the bond by $4.2 million by incorporating instructional space for the district’s culinary arts, entrepreneurship, art and graphic design, health science and law enforcement programs into the facility.

Dr. Poenitzsch hopes that with the purchase of this building, Bellville ISD is able to boost its presence in downtown.

 

Parking at the back of the property would be reserved for Bellville ISD staff.  Students would not park in downtown, and would instead be shuttled from the high school to the facility.

Dr. Poenitzsch said the district anticipates closing on the facility in the next month, and renovations would occur through the remainder of the current school year.  Administrators would move in over the summer, and classes would start in the fall of 2022.

Click here to read more about Bellville ISD's plans to purchase the Wells Fargo building.