Kingsbury Middle School site about to have ‘for sale’ sign

By Kathryn Reed

ZEPHYR COVE – Douglas County School District is moving forward with plans to sell the former Kingsbury Middle School site.

Superintendent Lisa Noonan briefed the board at its meeting this month about her intention to begin tackling all the state statutes involved with selling school property as well as concerns the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency may have.

One issue the district will look into is whether the coverage at KMS can be transferred to other school sites in Lake Tahoe.

The old middle school is in its third year of sitting idle. Declining enrollment forced the district to consolidate the three lake schools into two, with Zephyr Cove Elementary becoming a K-6 and Whittell High a 7-12.

“I know this is not the best economic climate to sell real estate, but it is a unique piece of property,” Noonan told the board. “I would love to see its next life contribute to the community even if it is not a Douglas County School District facility.”

The plan is to have at least one forum at the lake to discuss the future of the KMS site.

In other action:

• Sharla Hales is president of the board, Tom Moore vice president, and Karen Chessell clerk.

• B Gorman, executive director of the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, gave a presentation about the Prosperity Plan.

• The board gave the superintendent direction to speak with Jacks Valley Elementary parents about consolidation issues as well as possibly making the school a K-8.