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Independence, MO —
Independence Superintendent Jim Hinson is quick to acknowledge that the Independence School District still has its eye on the Rockwood Golf Club property.
The 91-acre site is directly north of Nowlin Middle School and west of Korte Elementary. With an ever-increasing student population in landlocked western Independence, space large enough for an elementary school is at a premium.
“We have been looking at the property for several months,” he said. “We have a growing enrollment at the elementary level and even with the new elementary school (being built in western Independence), capacity is going to continue to be a problem.”
Once considered one of the premier golf clubs in the Kansas City area, the course has sat vacant for several months, concerning nearby residents. A town hall meeting was held June 14 to discuss its future.
Hinson said the school district became aware of the property about five years ago when it first went up for sale for a possible residential development. Since then, it has been on and off the market, operating as a golf course as recently as 2011.
With this most recent closure, Hinson said he and district administrators have been in conversations with KemperSports Management, the owner of the property. The school district would like to use a portion of land for the site of a new elementary school. The remaining portion would be used to create a nine or 18-hole golf course for the high schools’ golf teams as well as for employee use.
“Everything west of Noland Road is growing – Korte, Fairmount, Three Trails – there is phenomenal growth,” he said. “It is a problem, but a good problem to have.”
The three elementary schools along with Nowlin Middle School and Van Horn, were annexed into the Independence School District from Kansas City five years ago. While Hinson said he believed young families would return to the area with the district change, he had no idea how fast student populations would grow.
“Sure, we thought we would see an increase in enrollment as families moved back,” he said. “But the dramatic increase in enrollment is certainly a surprise to us. We think it is because the area offers so much affordable housing.”
The original discussion, Hinson said, was for KemperSports to donate the property to the school district.
Unlike what was implied at Monday’s Independence City Council meeting, the town hall meeting has not stopped discussions between the property’s owners and the district. However, he said, with the possibility of another entity purchasing the property, discussions have been temporarily put on hold.
“We are still very interested in the property. We need to have an additional elementary school site,” he said. “The neighborhood wants this property turned over for the right purpose, and we want to be part of those conversations.”
Independence Superintendent Jim Hinson is quick to acknowledge that the Independence School District still has its eye on the Rockwood Golf Club property.
The 91-acre site is directly north of Nowlin Middle School and west of Korte Elementary. With an ever-increasing student population in landlocked western Independence, space large enough for an elementary school is at a premium.
“We have been looking at the property for several months,” he said. “We have a growing enrollment at the elementary level and even with the new elementary school (being built in western Independence), capacity is going to continue to be a problem.”
Once considered one of the premier golf clubs in the Kansas City area, the course has sat vacant for several months, concerning nearby residents. A town hall meeting was held June 14 to discuss its future.
Hinson said the school district became aware of the property about five years ago when it first went up for sale for a possible residential development. Since then, it has been on and off the market, operating as a golf course as recently as 2011.
With this most recent closure, Hinson said he and district administrators have been in conversations with KemperSports Management, the owner of the property. The school district would like to use a portion of land for the site of a new elementary school. The remaining portion would be used to create a nine or 18-hole golf course for the high schools’ golf teams as well as for employee use.
“Everything west of Noland Road is growing – Korte, Fairmount, Three Trails – there is phenomenal growth,” he said. “It is a problem, but a good problem to have.”
The three elementary schools along with Nowlin Middle School and Van Horn, were annexed into the Independence School District from Kansas City five years ago. While Hinson said he believed young families would return to the area with the district change, he had no idea how fast student populations would grow.
“Sure, we thought we would see an increase in enrollment as families moved back,” he said. “But the dramatic increase in enrollment is certainly a surprise to us. We think it is because the area offers so much affordable housing.”
The original discussion, Hinson said, was for KemperSports to donate the property to the school district.
Unlike what was implied at Monday’s Independence City Council meeting, the town hall meeting has not stopped discussions between the property’s owners and the district. However, he said, with the possibility of another entity purchasing the property, discussions have been temporarily put on hold.
“We are still very interested in the property. We need to have an additional elementary school site,” he said. “The neighborhood wants this property turned over for the right purpose, and we want to be part of those conversations.”
