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Board approves hangar lease for new School of Innovation for Aviation
Summary
The board approved a two-year lease (with an option to extend) for a 5,730 sq. ft. hangar and office at the regional airport to house the School of Innovation for Aviation, at $4,000 per month; a board member recused due to airport directorship.
The Florence 1 Board approved a lease and operating agreement with the regional airport to house the district’s School of Innovation for Aviation, Superintendent Dr. Richard O’Malley said.
Dr. O’Malley told the board the facility is an airport hangar of 5,730 square feet on roughly a half-acre and that the lease would start on June 1, 2026. He said the rent is "$4,000 a month, total of $48,000 for the year" and that the agreement is for two years with an additional two-year extension provision. The lease would provide space for classrooms tied to the district’s aviation workforce development program.
Dr. O’Malley said the state granted approval on May 8 to move forward with the aviation school. He described four components of the program: flight training (including pilot’s license), drones, air traffic control and aviation mechanics, and said the district is working with the county on a possible drone park at the district’s former stadium site.
One board member recused from the vote "due to my position as a director at the airport," which the chair noted for the record. The agreement was reviewed by legal counsel and insurance obligations were confirmed, and the board approved the lease by voice vote.
Next steps include phased renovations and a phased program transition beginning in August–September as necessary to prepare classrooms and operations at the hangar.
