Lee University Acquires Neighboring School
A 3-acre Cleveland, Tennessee elementary school campus was sold at public auction earlier this month and the buyer was the 79 year-old school’s neighbor, Lee University.
Mayfield Elementary School students moved to a brand-new campus three blocks away on October 8 and in an effort to satisfy construction costs, the Cleveland City School Board voted to sell the former campus at public auction. Mayfield, one of the oldest existing schools in the city, has been within two blocks of the Lee University campus since the Church of God college relocated to Cleveland, Tennessee in 1948. The land had been contiguous to Lee’s campus since 1994 when Atkins-Ellis Residence Hall was constructed and the DeVos College of Education four years later. Both buildings back up to the Mayfield campus with Magnolia Ave. as the dividing line. Acquisition of the property was deemed a priority when it became available.
Three years ago, the school board voted to build a new Mayfield School rather than renovate. When the auction was complete, members of the Cleveland City School Board were elated that Lee had the winning bid.
“The purchase of the Mayfield property by Lee University was a great conclusion to a process that has been in the works for a number of years,” stated School Board Chairman Bill Brown. “With the purchase of the old Mayfield property, Lee will be able to use it to enhance the programs and the campus. I can’t think of a better win/win situation for both of our institutions.” “We are in a major transition as far as developing our campus is concerned,” stated Lee University President Dr. Paul Conn. “We’re doing lots of things and we just have to see how it (the acquisition of Mayfield) fits into all of that. But we felt we couldn’t afford not to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Over the last 20 years, Lee University has expanded its campus exponentially. Due to an enrollment which has quadrupled and the need for more classroom and residential space, the Lee campus has grown from approximately 22 acres in the mid-1980’s to well over 100 acres today.
The old Mayfield School contains 46,000 square feet of classroom and office space and includes a full cafeteria and gymnasium. Possible uses of the space may include an education lab school, employee day care, art studios, theatre practice and performance venue, expansion of intramural sports options and much needed storage space.
“Mayfield is an important part of this community and neighborhood. We are trying to figure out how to develop it in a way that best enhances those elements and meets our needs at the same time.”
A week following the transaction, Lee University donated the old Mayfield playground equipment to the local Boys and Girls Club. Estimates of the value of the equipment was approximately $15,000.
