By William Croyle
Enquirer contributor

PARK HILLS - After two months of speculation that it might become a church or high-rise condominium complex, the former Kenton Central High School in Park Hills will remain a school after all - but on a post-secondary level.

A $550,000 bid by Gateway Community and Technical College, located next door to the alternative high school, was accepted earlier this week by the Kenton County School Board.

Due to budget constraints, the board announced Feb. 24 that the high school and Visalia Elementary School would close at the end of this school year, saving the district $3 million.

Gateway's offer for the 36,800-square-foot building was only 60 percent of the $920,000 appraised value.

"We were hoping it would come in closer to the appraisal, but we had a few things working against us," said David Lloyd, facilities systems director for the Kenton County School District.

"One was the economy, two was the zoning, and three was the asbestos that is in the building."

The zoning, currently residential, could have posed a problem for some bidders if the city was reluctant to change it.

The asbestos, Lloyd said, becomes a problem when it is airborne, which is what could have happened if a buyer wanted to knock the building down.

Gateway, with three campuses and 2,500 students, plans to keep the 20-classroom building as is.

"We're very pleased with the condition of the building," said Gateway President Edward Hughes. "We feel pretty good that we could walk in tomorrow and start classes."

Hughes said his goal is to be in the building by Aug. 1, three or four weeks before the start of the 2003-2004 school year.

The timing of the purchase is perfect for Gateway, which was looking for more classroom space to accommodate an expanded general education curriculum.

The Kenton County School District accepted bids last month for the school, but only received two - a $10,000 bid from the city of Park Hills, and a $350,000 bid by Calvary Chapel of Northern Kentucky, which currently holds weekly services in the building.

Both bids, considered by the board to be too low, were rejected. The bidding process was conducted again, with four offers submitted the second time around.

Gateway outbid Zalla Realty of Fort Mitchell by $45,000. Ocean's Development came in at $410,000, while Calvary Church submitted another bid at $350,000.

"We thought that would be the range of what we could put together financially," Hughes said of his school's bid. "That was our upper limit."

Hughes said the college is working on financing that would include some private funding.

Besides the financing, the college must get state approval for the purchase, something Hughes said should not be a problem.

"I think it will be a successful bid," he said.

The proceeds from the sale will be put into the Kenton County School District's general fund.

Students at Kenton Central will be transferred to either Dixie Heights High School or Simon Kenton High School next year.

The daycare facility at Kenton Central for teen mothers will be relocated to Simon Kenton.

The district plans to keep Visalia Elementary School and re-open it in the future when the population in that area increases.