The Daviess County Board of Education met in special session and voted to purchase the Daymar College property located at 3361 Buckland Square, Owensboro, for $2.4 million dollars.
“DCPS has worked hard to define great expectations for all students, and this learning environment will provide a fantastic new opportunity for students in the alternative setting to reach and exceed those expectations,” DCPS Superintendent Owens Saylor said. “We are committed to ensuring that all students be given the best possible resources and support so that they will graduate from high school with the tools and skills they need to be successful at the next level, whether in completing a college degree or through a family-sustainable career.”
DCPS director of maintenance David Humphrey shared information about the Daymar College campus during his presentation to the Board of Education. The building has 15 classrooms and includes a 4,000 square foot area currently used as a nurse training area. The original building was constructed in 1996 with an addition added in 2008, bringing square footage to a total of about 28,300. The property includes approximately 6.362 acres of land.
Since arriving in Daviess County two years ago, Saylor has made it a priority to strengthen alternative education. Beginning this year, the High School Alternative Program Advisory Council will begin exploring options for taking the current Beacon Central High School programs to the next level. The council will focus on the following areas of emphasis:
- Full assessment of academic and therapeutic services
- Vision for four-year academic alternative plans
- Defining college pathways in alternative setting
- Defining career pathways in alternative setting
“This purchase offers strong academic and educational benefits for our students and demonstrates the responsible financial stewardship of our district,” Saylor said. “With this move, we are addressing current facility issues while providing opportunities for program expansion.”
The district’s goal is to transition students from the current Beacon Central High School site to the new location at the start of the second semester (January 2015).
Daymar Properties Inc. will continue to lease space for Daymar College students in a joint operating arrangement with DCPS. Dr. Larry Banks, provost and vice president of operations for Daymar Properties Inc., said, “We are happy that the campus will continue to be used for educational purposes.”
