Polk County school board members unanimously voted Monday, April 9 to purchase property adjacent to Polk County High School in order to relocate the system’s Early College program.

Superintendent Bill Miller said he believes the move makes the most sense because the new location would keep Early College students connected to events and extracurricular activities at the high school.

“This space meets our criteria because it’s walking distance for our students and adjoins our academic recovery property,” Miller said. “The other great thing is we can add on to that building to get the 8 or 9,000-square-foot space that we need.”

The approximate 3,600-foot property is located at 1545 Hwy. 108, across from Wolverine Pizza. This building currently houses Karma Salon, which would have to move if the deal goes through.

Miller said the board’s hope is to close on that property and build an addition to accommodate the growing number of students enrolled in the early college program. The Early College currently has 58 students and expects continued growth, Miller said, with students seeking to obtain college credits without the expense of college courses.