Fayette schools buys land in Masterson Station for new elementary, middle schools

The Fayette County Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to acquire 14 acres of land at 1345 Greendale Road to build new schools.

At Monday’s planning meeting, the Board voted to acquire the property for an appraised purchase price of $3.1 million, or $218,035 per acre.

The purchase allows Fayette County Public Schools to be well-positioned to anticipate and accommodate growth in the Masterson Station area, where adjoining land was acquired last September at 1411 and 1451 Greendale Road. That property was owned by Haydon Homes.

The latest property was owned by James D. Baker, district officials said.

The purchase of the adjoining land would be large enough to accommodate both an elementary and middle school in a high-growth area, though work would first begin on an elementary school.

The District Facility Plan identifies a new elementary school in the Masterson Station area as a priority.

Sandersville Elementary and Coventry Oak elementary schools -- both built within the past 13 years -- serve the area and are experiencing tremendous enrollment growth, district officials said.

Sandersville Elementary to accomodate growth this year added portable classrooms.

“Our board’s actions continue to balance the needs that currently exist in our district while preparing intentionally for the future,” Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said. “Our team works continuously to identify property suitable for development in fast-growing areas such as Masterson Station. “

Acquiring the adjacent property gives the district flexibility.

The property purchase will not be final until the district receives final approval from the Kentucky Department of Education.

“Although no tentative timeline is available for when a new elementary or secondary school would be built, this additional acquisition of land on Greendale allows us to plan for future needsas we study growth and enrollment patterns,” Chief Operating Officer Myron Thompson said in a news release.

The newest elementary school in the district is Brenda Cowan Elementary School, which opened in August 2019. Since then, the school district opened a new Tates Creek High School building in 2022 and recently broke ground for a new middle school in the Hamburg area, the news release said.

During the past decade, enrollment in the Fayette County Public Schools has increased consistently. The district now serves over 40,000 students across 69 schools and programs.

“Our classrooms must be places that ignite innovation and attain equity as we support students in their growth as learners, leaders, and future members of the workforce,” Board Chairman Tyler Murphy said. “Today’s board decision will help us alleviate crowding and position us for continued excellence in student achievement as Fayette County grows and evolves.”

In the past six years, the district has opened four new schools - Brenda Cowan Elementary School in the fall of 2019, Frederick Douglass High School in the fall of 2017, and Coventry Oak and Garrett Morgan elementary schools in the fall of 2016.

In addition, the district recently began work on a new Career and Technical Education Center in the former Herald-Leader building on Midland Avenue.