Two real estate deals are in the works for the Mandan School District.

First is the Central Administration Building. It'll be listed with the Aspen Group for $450,000. The Mandan School Board approved a nine-month contract with a 90-day trailer with the real estate company.

The district is selling the property in anticipation of moving its offices to the Mandan Junior High building after the sixth graders move over to the new Mandan Middle School.

The other transaction is a piece of property near Mandan High School. It's the Keeler House, and the estate holders are looking to sell to the district. For the right price, the district would like to buy the house, which is by the east gymnasium.

Right now, the right price is the 2007 taxable valuation of $90,800. The asking price is $138,700. The district would pay for it out of the building fund and will look at possible ways to pay for it over a two-year period, if the estate holders agree.

"I was told if that property ever comes, to buy it," Superintendent Wilfred Volesky said.

The property wouldn't have any immediate use to the district, and it would cost about $10,000 to demolish the structure, level the site and relocate or terminate utilities. The property gives the district space for future expansion of the gym or a spot to put the Walter House or build extra classrooms.

The district purchased 907 Sixth Ave. N.W. for $65,000 in 2005. It also owns the Walter House at 905 Sixth Ave. N.W., which is used for students to job shadow careers in special education.

In other board news:

It will purchase a 1988 activity bus to add to its fleet. There is one for sale in Jamestown for $25,000.

The remodeling of the junior high for the sixth-graders will cost about $101,000. Contracts went to Dakota West Contracting, Central Mechanical Inc. and Electric Systems.

At the April 7 board meeting, the board named the sixth-grade center the Great Plains Sixth Grade Academy and voted to give all the fifth graders a pizza party. The district had held a contest for fifth graders to name the new sixth-grade center.

The next school board meeting is at 5:30 p.m. May 5 in the Central Administration Building. A special board meeting will be held May 3 at 7 a.m. in the Mandan High School commons to talk about the district's strategic plan.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@bismarcktribune.com.)