The beginning process of handling the former middle school property for the Greene County School District took an official step.

The School Board approved at their regular meeting last month to remove asbestos from the three-story portion as well as the gymnasium. Superintendent Tim Christensen says while the decision to remove the asbestos was made by the Board, no official decision has been made as far as what will happen to the property itself.

“Again no matter what is done with the buildings, whether it’s able to be turned into apartments or whether it’s demolished, whatever happens to either one of those buildings, removing the asbestos is the first step that has to take place.”

Christensen notes there have been previous discussions with a developer, Nate Adams, about converting the school building into apartments, but Adams was not confident that he could do the project if the gym was still attached to the school building, due to the structure not being eligible for state historical tax credits. 

The asbestos will be removed by Environmental Property Solution for $93,200.