The Killeen Independent School District will accept sealed bids for two former elementary school properties through mid-January 2026
The Killeen Independent School District is moving forward with plans to sell two vacant elementary school buildings that have sat empty since 2021. The 1. former Clifton Park Elementary School and 2. former Sugar Loaf Elementary School will be available through a sealed bid process that concludes in mid-January, potentially saving the district hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
The decision comes just weeks after a Harker Heights church informally expressed interest in purchasing Eastern Hills Middle School, which will close after the current academic year ends. The district appears to be taking a more aggressive approach to managing its surplus properties as enrollment patterns shift and facility costs continue rising.
Bidding process opens for interested buyers
KISD’s board of trustees published legal notices in the Killeen Daily Herald on Nov. 18 and Nov. 25, formally announcing the sealed bid opportunity. According to Karen Rudolph, the district’s head spokeswoman, interested parties can submit bids through KISD’s purchasing website until 2 p.m. on Jan. 13.
The former Clifton Park Elementary School sits at 2200 Trimmier Road, while the former Sugar Loaf Elementary School is located at 1517 Barbara Lane. Both properties have been vacant since the district consolidated them with other campuses four years ago, though Clifton Park has continued serving a limited purpose for custodial training.
The district enlisted professional real estate firms to handle each property. The Jim Wright Company, which specializes in residential and commercial development in the Fort Hood and Killeen area, serves as the broker for Clifton Park. Linnemann Realty, a local real estate brokerage and property management company, represents the Sugar Loaf property.
Property details and valuations
The Clifton Park property spans 9.84 acres and includes a 51,060-square-foot main building constructed in 1964. A newer 3,897-square-foot physical education building was added to the campus in 2011, according to information on the Jim Wright Company website. The Tax Appraisal District of Bell County valued the entire Clifton Park property at nearly $1.57 million in 2024.
Sugar Loaf sits on 5.288 acres and features a 62,303-square-foot building erected in 1965. Despite being slightly smaller in acreage than Clifton Park, the Sugar Loaf property received a higher 2024 valuation of $1.99 million from the county appraisal district. Combined, both properties carry an assessed value of approximately $3.56 million.
The district closed both campuses in 2021 as part of a broader consolidation effort. Bellaire Elementary School and the original Clifton Park campus merged, with the new Clifton Park facility opening at 1801 S. Second Street. Sugar Loaf consolidated with the new Pershing Park Elementary School after KISD demolished the original Pershing Park facility the same year.
Financial incentives driving the sales
During an August board workshop, Assistant Superintendent for Facilities Services Adam Rich presented compelling financial reasons for selling surplus properties. He estimated the district could save $300,000 annually by offloading the Bellaire, old Clifton Park and Sugar Loaf properties.
Those savings would come from eliminating ongoing maintenance costs, insurance expenses, utilities and other carrying costs associated with maintaining vacant buildings. Even properties not actively used for instruction require security, basic upkeep and periodic inspections, creating an ongoing financial drain on district resources.
The potential savings take on added significance as school districts across Texas face budget pressures from various sources. Reducing overhead costs through strategic property sales allows districts to redirect funds toward educational programs, teacher salaries and active campus improvements.
Additional property sales on the horizon
The Clifton Park and Sugar Loaf sales represent just part of KISD’s broader effort to streamline its real estate portfolio. Rudolph indicated that district administrators will likely provide the board with an update on the Bellaire property in January or February, suggesting another sale opportunity may be forthcoming.
The Bellaire campus, which closed simultaneously with Clifton Park and Sugar Loaf in 2021, has been part of the district’s consolidation plans from the beginning. Including Bellaire in the sales strategy would help KISD achieve the full $300,000 in projected annual savings that Rich outlined during the August workshop.
Church expresses interest in middle school campus
Beyond the elementary school properties currently up for bid, KISD has received informal interest in another closing campus. Vintage Church in Harker Heights expressed interest in purchasing the Eastern Hills Middle School campus after it closes following the current school year.
While that potential transaction remains in preliminary stages, it demonstrates continued demand for school properties in the Killeen area. Churches, charter schools, community organizations and private developers often seek former school buildings due to their size, layout and established infrastructure.
Community impact and future use
The sales will mark the end of an era for two campuses that served Killeen families for decades. Both Clifton Park and Sugar Loaf educated generations of elementary students before enrollment shifts and facility planning led to their closure and consolidation.
The properties’ future use will depend on who ultimately submits winning bids and their intended purposes. Potential buyers could convert the buildings for various uses including private schools, community centers, office space or even residential redevelopment depending on zoning requirements.
