Central High School to Be Relocated

Move to Former Greenwell Springs Hospital to Begin in 5 to 8 Years

    At last Monday night’s meeting of the Central Community School Board, Superintendent Mike Faulk announced that the process to build a new Central High School at the former Greenwell Springs Hospital site would begin in five to eight years.  Faulk shared that the process will start with a committee of community members such as was formed for the Intermediate and Middle School project.
    The acquisition of the 175-acre hospital property on Greenwell Springs Road is a project that Senator Bodi White has been working on for several years at the state level.  Senator White shared that this acquisition is “going to make one of the most beautiful school sites in the Baton Rouge area, as well as preserving the history of the Greenwell Springs and creating a park for public enjoyment.”
    The School Board has been working on the property for the past several years under a cooperative endeavor with the State, and has spent close to $2 million in demolition and abatement costs to remove the hospital buildings from the property, cap water wells, and maintain the property.  Superintendent Faulk explained that these costs were to be offset against the appraised value of the property so that it can be legally transferred to the School System by the State.
    Superintendent Faulk says that the final paperwork on the transfer is expected to be completed in the next week.  At that same meeting the School Board approved the $31,000 purchase of a 3/4-acre piece of frontage property adjacent to the 175 acres, giving frontage on Greenwell Springs to the entire property.