By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

UNION TOWNSHIP - The West Clermont Local School District has nearly doubled the size of its Glen Este High School campus with the purchase of 47 acres.

The district bought the land at $50,000 an acre, for a total cost of $2.35 million, from Ellis & Watts Co. of Union Township, said John Abegglen, a district assistant superintendent.

"Whenever you're able to get a piece of land at a reasonable price, you jump on top of it," Abegglen said. "It will allow us to plan for the future."

The land, which is wooded and contains a large pond and wetlands, is east of the Glen Este High School campus, which consists of 49 acres and abuts Elick Lane.

The district, which has 9,000 students, has had flat growth for the last four years.

It projects flat growth for another 10 and has no immediate plans for the site.

However, there are plans to construct a limited-access road in the next four years connecting the Glen Este High School campus to Elick Lane to provide a second entrance to the school, Abegglen said.

The site will also likely become home to another school building, either elementary or middle school, as well as a relocated bus garage, he said.

On Tuesday night, the Union Township trustees voted to approve a zoning change for the land from residential and industrial to a planned development zone.