The Camas School Board has unanimously approved the purchase of a 12-acre piece of land for the construction of a new elementary school on the eastside of Camas within the Hills at Round Lake planned residential development.

The Camas School District will pay $2.56 million this month to the Loyal Land Company, LLC, and another $975,000 in construction funds and $1.14 million in impact fees, upon the seller's completion of site improvements like grading, and sewer and water lines.

"We feel like this is a great win-win situation for the community and the school district," said Superintendent Mike Nerland.

This is the second time the school district has partnered with the city of Camas and a development company to set aside land for a school.

In December 2005, the school board approved the purchase of 10.7 acres from Talbitzer Homes in the Lacamas Meadows residential development where the Grass Valley Elementary School will be built and is set to open in fall 2009.

The developer will be expected to perform improvements to the site that include grading, construction of a storm water detention facility, sediment pond, retaining walls and site stabilization, as well as off-site construction of public sanitary sewer and waterlines, and construction of Northeast 35th Avenue. As part of the agreement, the improvements must be completed by fall 2010.

The Hills at Round Lake will be located north of Lacamas Park off of Southeast Crown Road.

School district attorney Shawn MacPherson said the company has been approved to build 180 lots in the subdivision.