The Swain County Board of Education voted unanimously to approve an amendment authorizing purchase of a 2.5-acre parcel on Black Hills for $350,000, board members were told Tuesday. The approval will allow staff to extend an offer to the listed seller, identified in the meeting as Mr. Drinkwater.

A district representative told the board the county commissioners had already approved the purchase and the board’s approval would allow the district to finalize the transaction. The presenter said a survey is underway and that a neighboring northern parcel has a first‑right‑of‑refusal provision; the district will address that northern parcel in a separate action soon.

Board members voted by show of hands; the motion passed unanimously. The presenter said the engineering firm LS3P will continue schematic work for related construction planning and that firm will visit the district soon to finalize building size and budget figures. The board did not attach conditions to the purchase vote at the meeting and indicated staff should complete survey and title work before closing.