The Cypress School District has found a new home for its administrative headquarters.
At a special meeting last week, the Cypress Board of Trustees approved the purchase of a commercial office building located at 5816 Corporate Ave. to replace an aging central office that was built more than 50 years ago.
“We are excited by the prospect of securing a central office facility that will provide much-needed meeting space for teacher professional development, student performances and public meetings, and is accessible to people with disabilities,” board President Sandra Lee said. Additionally, the space meets essential safety codes and energy and water efficiency standards.”
According to a statement, the board has explored a number of options over the years for addressing its aging district office. But in August, board members became aware of a commercial office building priced at about $7.8 million and located within the district’s boundaries.
“Purchasing an existing office building presents a multi-million dollar savings over the cost of constructing a new facility, which was estimated last year at approximately $15 million,” Superintendent Anne Silavs said. “Clearly, this is a cost-effective solution to meet the needs of our district staff, students and families.”
“I look forward to the day that we are able to comfortably and responsibly accommodate large crowds for student performances, professional learning and regional meetings of importance to our school operations,” Lee said.
The district said it will use funds from its Special Reserve for Capital Outlay to complete the purchase. These dollars are restricted, meaning they cannot be used to pay for salaries or student programs.
The Cypress School District has a 30-day due diligence period to perform inspections and review building reports. If all goes as planned, escrow will close by Oct. 3 and Cypress’ administrative team will be able to occupy the new offices by next summer.