A letter of intent for a new elementary school was unanimously approved by City Council members at a meeting this week.
The city of Moscow has been prospecting the idea of building a new elementary school on West Palouse River Drive, a 44-acre property located adjacent to U of I’s Arboretum.
Originally purchased by the city in 2002 for athletic playfields, the plans were scrapped due to high costs, and the land has remained vacant until now.
Moscow School District has anticipated the need for a new elementary school soon to achieve a better distribution of school locations and best serve neighboring communities.
The school district voted last March in favor of closing 130+ year-old J. Russell Elementary, further pushing the need for additional schools.
The approved planning study will assess the feasibility of developing the property for an elementary school, city park, and athletic ballfields.
Additionally, the analysis will evaluate pedestrian access, vehicle access and circulation, site grading, parking, and athletic facility development. Estimated to cost $50,000, the planning price will be split equally between the city and the school district.
Strictly an exploratory procedure, the study would be non-binding and wouldn’t require the city or district to take any further action. The planning and proposal are expected to take 6-9 months
Alison Cranney can be reached at [email protected]