Avoyelles School Board to consider leasing Fifth Ward to community center group

Another closed school may soon be given a new life as a community center.

At its Jan. 22 meeting, the Avoyelles School Board Building & Lands Committee endorsed signing a 99-year lease of the Fifth Ward High School property to the Fifth Ward Community Center (FWCC) non-profit organization.

While the official monthly rent for the property would be $1,700, the proposed lease would allow the organization to satisfy that obligation with in-kind services.

Those services would include paying for maintenance/repairs, liability/property insurance and some capital improvements the group has planned.

The organization would also be responsible for paying utility bills and property taxes.

“We’re extremely happy that the committee agreed this should go forward and we are anxiously awaiting the approval of the full board,” FWCC President Nathan Bordelon said.

Bordelon said several businesses and individuals -- including some in neighboring Rapides Parish -- have made donations to raise start-up funds to enable the organization to begin cleaning up the property and making any major repairs. “For the first year it will be mainly cleaning up,” Bordelon said. “Once people see us out there working, I believe the community will fall in and help.”

He said community involvement and interest in the proposed center has “really picked up in recent weeks.” Organization members have been researching possible grants from public and private sources. Once the lease is signed, applications for those grants will be sent out. A major project on the group’s wish list is installing heating and air conditioning in the gymnasium.

“We will seek $92,000 in state capital outlay funds for that project,” Bordelon said. “If we can get that amount from the state, the USDA will kick in another $50,000 for needed work in the gym.” Once the gym is fully functional, “we can rent it out for various events.” Bordelon said there will be ongoing programs for senior citizens, veterans and youth.

Educational and recreational programs are expected to be a main function of the center.

“Once the lease is approved, we will be applying for grants to purchase sporting equipment, computers and install internet,” Bordelon said.

While FWCC would be allowed to sublease parts of the property to public service or private commercial tenants, the lease specifically prohibits allowing any part of the property to be used for a public or private school.

Bordelon said the non-profit is satisfied with leasing the property at this time, but may consider buying it outright at a later date.

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