Airway Heights weighs land purchase for future school

Spokane County commissioners supported Cheney School District’s effort this week, approving a letter Tuesday. The district is negotiating for vacant ground surrounding the Airway Heights Recreation Center. The city owns the 70-acre property at 11405 W. Deno Road, where the center is located.

The city requested county backing because the county previously owned the property and attached restrictions when transferring it. Those covenants allow recreation, utilities or community services. Commissioners concluded that a school fits the permitted community-service use. Although their letter refers to a high school, Superintendent Ben Ferney said the district might instead build a middle school and remains far from choosing.

Airway Heights and the district have signed a letter of intent, but negotiations continue over the acreage and price. County assessor records place the land’s value at $914,760 and the recreation center’s value at $17.6 million. Ferney did not give a completion date for the purchase talks. Funding would come from the $72 million bond approved by voters in 2024, which included property purchases for future elementary, secondary and transportation facilities.

Bond funds are already supporting Skyway Elementary, a new Airway Heights school located where First Avenue crosses Craig Road. Its anticipated opening is fall 2027. The bond has also paid for work elsewhere, including track and stadium upgrades at Cheney High School. Acquiring the recreation-center property would reserve another local site as the district develops its long-term plans.