Land swap makes room for new school

24 to 48 hours./// tonight the rochester public school board agreed to a land swap with the city of rochester.

The deal could secure the site of the med city's next middle school.

Kimt news three's anthony monzon is live outside longfellow elementary with the details of the agreement.

Anthony?

Katie... george... the rochester public school board voted unanmiously to pass this deal... which could signal the start of new development projects for r?

"*p?

"*s and th city of rochester.

"be it resolved that the school board of independent school district 535 does hereby approve the exchange agreement with the city of rochester park board."

The rochester public school board... moving forward a tentative agreement to swap land with the city of rochester.

The agreement will see the city take over the property currently occupied by longfellow elementary... and a new middle school be built on the mcquillan soccer fields around the corner.

"it's really to our advantage to move that to a different site a couple blocks away so that we have room to work, and a little bit more room to expand, since the school will be a little bit bigger."

In addition to exchanging properties... the school board would pay the city over 260?

"* thousand?

"* dollars.

R?

"*p?

* also foot the bill for the cost of demolishing the longfellow elementary building.

"we don't feel that's going to push us over budget by having to buy a little bit of extra land here, and pay for the cost to move the building, take down the old building as well.

Again, we and really both sides feel they have something to gain from this agreement.

The city will take over a smaller parcel of land which appraisers believe has potential to be developed as a housing complex of green space.

R?

"*p?

"*s on the other would be able to build a larger school on their new property... addressing what the school board calls and overcrowding issue.

Live in rochester... anthony monzon... kimt news three.

Thank you anthony.

Carlson says the rochester park board has passed a similar resolution.

Officials are unsure whether the agreement will need to be approved by mayor norton before