Bank gift
March 29th, 2007 by 
Alica
I see in today’s Brandon Valley Challenger that First National Bank plans to give its old building to the Brandon Valley School District to use for district administrative offices. Then those offices in the high school would be turned into classrooms.
The gift is contingent on two things, though. One is that the building can’t be used as a bank or competing financial institution. It doesn’t sound like there’d be any chance of that. So far so good. The other condition is that the bank must appraise the building at a value acceptable fo First National’s board of directors. I wonder what value would be acceptable. The story didn’t say when the bank thinks the appraisal might happen. Soon, I hope.
Do you think school offices is a good use for the old bank building? Or would you prefer the building to be used some other way? That is a real good commercial site. It might be better used for some retail or service business that would pay property taxes and would generate sales tax for the city coffers.
On the other hand, a couple-three free classrooms just fall into the school’s lap, which is good also.
Do you think the pluses outweigh the minuses? What is your opinion?
Posted in Uncategorized | 
March 29th, 2007 at 10:10 am
As a community patron who attends school board meetings regularly, and has for the past four years, I find ANY gift given to the school district of significance. Recently, the district had a $20,000.00 gift from Alice Bennett’s estate. Now, the district has been graciously given the old First National Bank building. Both these gifts come after building years of confidence in our school district. However the school district feels this building should be utilized should be supported by the patrons they serve. As with any real estate gift that is given, an appraisal is part of the standard operating procedure with transfer of title of property.
The timing of these gifts, coupled with the initiation of the Facilities Planning Committee, shows that future planning is always in the forefront of the Brandon Valley Administration’s and Board of Education’s strategic planning. I have confidence that they will be good stewards of these and future gifts.
April 10th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
So will there still be an office in the school? I remember having to go to the office for various things when I was in school. Surely the kids won’t have to cross the street to do that, will they?
April 14th, 2007 at 5:48 am
I think the city of Brandon could use this space. It would be nice to have the Police Dept. in such an accessible location. I think they are going to need the room to expand. Maybe if we had the police across the street from the High School it would be safer for our kids.