An opportunity to expand the footprint of Plainview Public Schools came up last month and school officials took it as the district plans for future growth. The Plainview school system grew by about 90 acres last week after the school board approved the purchase during a special meeting on Friday, Feb. 28.

According to the agenda, the $900,000 purchase applies only to surface rights just east of the high school campus and athletic fields on the south side of Myall Road. Superintendent Karl Stricker briefly said that more details would be released as the process comes together.

“We were presented with an unexpected opportunity,” Stricker wrote in a Thursday email. “The board was receptive to the purchase to ensure the ability for future growth.”

County records show the district already owns about 75 acres across a patchwork of plots on three of four corners of the intersection at Plainview Road and Myall Road; about 20 acres on the northwest corner, a majority of which is occupied by the early childhood center further north of the intersection; another 29 acres on the northeast corner of that intersection currently houses primary through middle school facilities along with a gymnasium and other facilities; the southeast corner has several small parcels for the high school and outdoor athletic facilities totaling almost 26 acres.

The Plainview school student body is currently just over 1,500, according to the superintendent’s update to board members in February. At the time, the board had unanimously voted to hire a real estate agent to represent the district in the purchase of property. Stricker told Ardmore Leader at the time that current facilities are capable of handling the student body, but considerations would have to be made if recent growth in the area continues.

County records show the property is owned by a WW Martin, LLC based in Ardmore, which also owns a large piece of undeveloped land surrounding the entire primary, intermediate and middle school complex.