Superintendent Brian Johnson confirmed that the sale is almost complete and discussed the various uses being considered for the structure, which consists of a showroom, offices and shop areas.

“It’s not 100 percent completed yet,” he said. “The board approved it a month ago.”

The required paperwork filings for the sale are currently in the process of being completed.

He said the facility will be primarily used as a bus barn for the four buses currently stationed in Gowrie. Buses stationed at the district’s other schools in Burnside, Boxholm, Callender and Farnhamville will remain there.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Prairie Valley School Board President Shannon Miller looks over one of the service bays in the Macke Motors building Friday morning. The Prairie Valley School district has nearly completed the purchase of the building.

He cited several reasons for wanting the buses in a downtown location rather than at the school. Those include increased protection against possible vandalism, weather protection and making it easier for the drivers to avoid such chores as ice removal from bus windows.

“It’s about the safety of our students and the safety of our staff,” Johnson said.

The $150,000 cost of the facility comes from the district’s Capital Projects Fund.

“That comes from the 1 percent local option sales tax and the physical plant tax levy,” he said. “Those funds are all earmarked for infrastructure.”

Prairie Valley School Board President Shannon Miller is also happy to see the new facility as part of the district.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Southeast Valley School District Superintendent Brian Johnson looks around a now empty office in the Macke Motors building in Gowrie.

“It opens up parking for events (at the school) and leaves room for expansion,” he said. “It gets the buses away from the school into the middle of town; it’s more secure.”

The district had also considered the purchase of both the Iowa DOT maintenance site and the Webster County Road Departments site. Both were rejected as either being too expensive or too far from the school.

Johnson said they are considering a variety of uses for the office and showroom portion of the Macke building.

Some of those include offices, conference rooms, a central store where school merchandise could be purchased, classroom space for automotive classes or leasing some of the space to businesses.

“We have entertained many ideas,” Johnson said. “This does open up many possibilities.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Prairie Valley School Board President Shannon Miller looks over a blanket left behind in the Macke Motors building in Gowrie. The Southeast Valley district has nearly completed the process to purchase the former Chevrolet dealership’s building.

Currently, only one of the shop’s overhead doors is large enough to accommodate a bus. Plans may include the installation of several other large doors.

“We would like more doors to get more buses inside,” Johnson said.

The building will also require extensive additions to the fire protection system. It’s currently in compliance with the codes for a business. The building codes for a structure used for education require much more.

“It’s significantly different,” Johnson said. “If we have kids in the building, we will have a fire system.”

Both Johnson and Miller feel the building is in great condition. It’s been empty since Macke Motors ceased operations there in November of 2016.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen The Macke logo is still carved into a custom made floor drain cover.

“We’re excited about the possibilities,” Johnson said.