A deal is in the works that would allow a state charter school to buy an unused Cincinnati Public Schools building.

        The Dohn Community High School proposed to buy the McMillan Center building . in East Walnut Hills for $25,000. The building is appraised at $300,000.

        The Board of Education's facilities committee on Thursday recommended the entire board approve the sale. It will be before the board on Monday. The administration recommends going to public auction, where the building's value would be determined by offers made.

        The Dohn School's $25,000 offer takes into account more than $267,000 needed in environmental cleanups and renovations at the three-story building.

        Committee members Harriet Russell and Florence Newell said they want to sell the facility for $25,000 instead of risking a lower sale price at auction. The building was declared surplus in 1991.

        The Dohn School, for students with alcohol and drug abuse problems, would serve 250 students in the 36,000 square-foot facility. As a charter school, it receives money from the state but does not have to comply with the same regulations as public schools.

        Dohn Superintendent Kate Bower said owning the property will enable the school to take out a mortgage to make $1.5 million in renovations. Ownership also means greater ability to raise private funds.

        In other business, the facilities committee reviewed preliminary costs for a new school in the East End and gave initial approval to contracts with a master architect and construction manager.

        • Early figures show the K-12 East End School could cost as much as $21 million, but those numbers are high and likely to change, said Kent Cashell, district business executive.

        To be built on the Rakestraw site, the school would either need to be elevated above a parking garage or built on top of a mound because the property sits in a flood-prone area.

        • The committee recommended the board approve two contracts Monday. A contract with URS/DNK to act as the district's “master architect” would pay the firm $4.1 million through 2004. URS/DNK is working with the district to plan more than $700 million in renovations, repairs and new construction at its 77 buildings. The firm started work in the district last November. By December it will present project plans for each school.

        URS/DNK will provide programming and planning services. Other architects will complete the design phase.

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