LEBANON — Lebanon Schools officials say they are completing a contract with Turtlecreek Township trustees to purchase land on Ohio 123 to build an elementary school.

        Bowman Elementary School will be built on 26 acres at Ohio 123 and Hart Road, instead of next to the proposed new high school on Drake Road. The land, formerly known as the Foley property, is owned by the township.

        Stu Long, director of business operations for the school district, said both sides have agreed to the terms of the sale. Now the legal formalities need to be completed before the district can announce a purchase price for the property.

        School Superintendent Bill Sears said Wednesday that the new location will permit further expansion and room for athletic fields and additional parking.

        The new Bowman Elementary School and high school were slated to be built on 84 acres on Drake Road, a proposal that had wide community support. But Mr. Sears said even though the Drake Road site was large enough to accommodate the two schools, it would have been a tight fit if the schools needed to expand to meet an increase in enrollment.

        The only two options for the district were to build the elementary school next to the current high school on State Route 48 or on the Ohio 123 property.

        “Because of the growth anticipated on the western side of our school district, this site is particularly well-suited to our needs,” Mr. Long said. He said it also provides for “much safer” vehicle entry and exit than the site next to the current high school.

        Mr. Sears said the Lebanon area is growing at a fast pace and the school district needs to be able to meet those demands.

        The new $32 million high school will be built to accommodate 1,400 students and can be expanded to accommodate 1,600 students. Mr. Sears said the high school enrollment could rise to some 2,400 students.

        The $14.7 million Bowman Elementary School will be built to hold 1,000 students. Both schools are expected to open in fall 2004.

        Mr. Sears said architectural drawings for the two schools should be completed in late May or early June.

        The funds for the construction of both schools were secured through a $50 million levy passed last year.

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