Rochester Elementary school stands empty in the center of the district at 35th and Rochester. Many members of the community wonder what the district will do with the area and have ideas of their own.
Board of Education President Fred Patton says the board is, “Open to anything. If someone comes up with a good idea, and neighbors are okay with it, the board would be open to it.”
The building currently has a newer wing and the gym is in decent condition.
The building is for sale and has had a few people look at it, but there are multiple reasons why many potential buyers are not interested.
Rochester currently is not on sewer and has to be pumped out every day. It also has many floors which would make it difficult to use for a senior center.
Junior Lily Gallardo thinks they should make the building, “A place for students to go after school if they have nowhere else, or make it the U.S.D. 345 museum.”
Other students have come up with ideas such as a paintball site, a big gym, a shopping center, or a community garden. A community garden is public land that people can utilize either individually or as a big group to produce fruits and vegetables.
Rochester is currently listed for $600,000 and the district has $150,000 in funds for demolition if the building does not sell.
In addition to Rochester being vacant, Indian Creek is as well. Indian Creek was used previously used by the Boys and Girls Club, but that program is now held at each individual elementary school.
Currently, Indian Creek is only used for district storage.
Fred Patton adds about the school, “It would be nice to keep some ground in case the district keeps growing, but I’d hate to maintain something that isn’t being used.”