The central office of Stanly County Schools will have a new location in as early as one year.

At a special called meeting Monday morning, the Stanly County Board of Education moved to purchase an 8,228 square foot building on 4.78 acres of land, at 723 Aquadale Road in Albemarle. The location has been several businesses over the years, including a go-kart track and game room.

Facilities Committee Chair Robin Whittaker issued a press release Tuesday, along with committee members Glenda Gibson and Dustin Lisk, announcing the purchase. Whittaker said the cost of the building is $995,000.

The statement outlined reasons for the relocation. Here are those reasons in their entirety in the statement:

For the past 25 years, we have leased our current office space at Stanly Commons from Stanly County, paying approximately $90,000 annually. Not only were we responsible for the annual lease, but we also managed most of the facility's maintenance and upkeep. While this arrangement may have served us in the past, we determined that purchasing a building is a more cost-effective and forward-thinking solution for our district.

Here are the key reasons behind this decision:

1. Cost Savings and Long-Term Investment: Purchasing property is a sound financial investment for our district. By purchasing the building, we will be building equity rather than continuing to pay a lease, allowing us to manage our resources more effectively. This allows us to better manage our budget and invest those resources in other needed areas.

2. Stability and Control: Owning our building provides the stability of a permanent location for our central office operations. We will also have full control over space, enabling us to make improvements or complete future expansions as needed.

3. Improved Efficiency: The new building will provide a more suitable space for our Central Office, eliminating cubicles and creating areas for confidential conversations. It is better designed to meet our needs and offers an improved working environment for our staff.

We are confident that this decision is in the district's best interest, enhancing both financial stewardship and operational efficiency.

In a statement to The Stanly News & Press Tuesday, Whittaker added: "Twenty-five years ago I served on this Board when the decision was made to move our newly-merged systems into Stanly Commons. Our annual lease has continued to increase since then. It is no longer beneficial for us to continue to stay in a facility that does not meet our needs.

"Our Facility Committee has worked toward the purchase of this building for the past several months. This new central office facility represents a significant step forward, providing us with a modern space to better support our schools and community.

"This school board is dedicated to overcoming past stagnation and pushing forward for progress for our district."