State legislature approves sale of Michigan School for the Deaf

From WJRT-TV:

GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. -- The state legislature approved a bill Dec. 15 that allows a Genesee County developer to buy the Michigan School for the Deaf for $1.3 million.

Lurvey White Ventures, a private company, has big plans for the MSD campus.

The sale means major renovations and a plan to lease the buildings to both the School for the Deaf and Powers Catholic High School.

For Powers Catholic parents, they say this has been a long time coming.

"We need the move. We need to breath some new life into the Powers community," said Maggie Reeser Wright.

Reeser Wright drives her freshman daughter Molly every morning from Livingston County to attend Powers Catholic High School in Flint.

"As far as schools, Powers is the best we have," she said.

Reeser Wright watched Molly at the school's bowling match Wednesday night. She is a teacher at Eishenhower Elementary across the street from what is expected to be Powers new home.

"It's awesome," she said. "I am excited. Molly is excited. I also have a sixth grader at St John's who is looking forward to the new school."

"It's something powers has wanted for a long time, it's finally come true," said Gloria Royster.

Royster's son is a junior on the team. While he will miss out on the move, she believes the entire community will benefit from the sale.

"I think it will bring in more people and make it accessible for everyone," she said.

The Senate passed the bill giving the go-ahead to move forward.

Lurvey White Ventures plans to build a new MSD campus and renovate the vacant Fay Hall for Powers.

"We've already taken a drive through," said Jane Murphy. "It's a beautiful campus."

Murphy expects Powers to get a big boost in enrollment.

"I think it will have a big impact on the decisions that those parents makes for the incoming students," she said.

The developer said in a previous interview they plan to break ground in June.

They'll invest $35 million in renovations, creating as many as 150 jobs.