CASH IN HAND! 

Owosso, Mi. - The Owosso Middle School has sat vacant and has been heavily vandalized. The groups that the Owosso Schools try and sell it to never have cash but want an option as they search for grants. The last group walked away that was supposed to buy it.  

According to Pastor Eric Numerich of the Owosso Life In Christ Church, 1833 W M-21, Owosso, MI., The Good News is that the building is perfect for them and that they have outgrown their present school location and need this school.     

Life In Christ has plans and was looking at building a school this year on their property East of St Joe on Oliver St. They are also building a church this year.  

When they learned this past week that the school building they originally wanted, OMS, had become available, they offered the School District what Eric stated was a generous amount of cash. No grants are needed, no waiting for building plans or engineer reports since they are planning on leaving it as it is. Owosso Schools had already done so much work on the building that it is just about ready for the school bell to ring once again.  

Life In Christ operates a school with more than 100 students and already 150 children ready to attend for the fall.  

Buying OMS Life In Christ states is a win-win opportunity for them and Owosso. They would not have to build a new school, and the Historical building would once again become a school that would attract students from all over the county.   

The building is not falling.

Some work is needed, but the Church has the cash to take care of it again without taxpayer money. Remember, all of the groups that OPS wanted to sell it to want grants (your tax money) to allow them to get millions of dollars and radically change it. Life In Christ intends to keep it as it is. Eric stated it is beautiful and will make an excellent school.  

Below is a list of the top 10 things Life will do immediately after the Owosso School Board votes to accept their cash offer. Pastor Eric states they want to get the work done and the school reopened by fall..... 

Pay cash now 

Start using the building now 

Take over utility, insurance, maintenance, and other cash-flow needs the building has, and the district has been paying 

Expand our support of the people in need in the community (we support one organization now) 

Assure that the building will become and remain for perpetuity a viable beautiful community historic asset 

Repair and restore what the vandalism has done and put in security systems and other measures to prevent further vandalism 

Take care of current water leaks by making necessary repairs or reconstruction of the building foundations 

Upgrade the utility systems to make them more efficient, including heating, lighting, insulation, and air handling 

Continue the historical use of the building as a student learning center (school) to preserve the memories and appreciation of the building’s historic past 

Explain to the community the history of the building and collaborate with the Owosso Historical Commission and the Owosso Historical District Commission when we make improvements 

Other thoughts: 

Share the facility as appropriate with the community, such as the use of ongoing use the auditorium and other facility assets 

Become members of the downtown community (Main Street, DDA, Farmers Market, and Career Planning for students) by volunteering 

Create a plan with the community for the continuation of the use of the property if and/or when we are done with it 

Collaborate as appropriate and possible with initiatives in the school district along the lines of career technical education and placement of students into business that need a good workforce 

Involve students in the improvement efforts to make the building more energy-efficient while maintaining its historic appearance inside and out; this can be part of our STEAM curriculum initiatives and stress experiential learning on a real-life project 

Have an open-door policy for receiving collaboration suggestions by other community groups (public schools, non-profits, private schools, and other community groups that see motivated students as an asset) 

Use local contractors to make improvements to the insulation and heating system and other things that make the building energy efficient; keep the cash flow local. 

Explore what has made the previous potential buyers “walk away” and create action plans to overcome what they encountered 

Mitigate future flooding issues with an engineered solution? 

Create a strategic plan in conjunction with the SEDP and other groups on the employment needs in the community and adjust our curriculum to adapt to what local businesses need and to what our students want to do when they graduate (if not college preparation)?