Baker Charter Schools, which encompasses Baker Web Academy and Baker Early College, is pursuing the acquisition of the former Ellingson Lumber Co. office building.

The sale of the building at 3000 Broadway St. is expected to close by Nov. 15, said Daniel Huld, Baker Charter Schools superintendent. He declined to announce the sale price until the final inspection and other details are completed.

The property, which includes an 8,664-square-foot office building constructed in 1990, is valued at $329,240, according to Baker County Assessor’s Office records.

Huld said Monday that once the sale is finalized, Baker Charter Schools expects to take possession of the building in February. Cleanup and minor remodeling is planned in the spring, and Baker Charter Schools expects to be in the building by June, Huld said.

The online schools, which have 60 students and 25 staff locally, will move to that building from the current location at North Baker School, 2725 Seventh St.

“The building will better meet our needs, allowing us to more efficiently utilize space for both faculty and staff,” Huld stated in a press release.

Baker Charter Schools has eight locations across Oregon currently serving 2,500 students statewide. The main office, which contains financial and student records for the entire state, is housed in Baker City.

Huld said the Ellingson building has office spaces as opposed to the classrooms at North Baker, which will better meet the needs of Baker Charter Schools.

Baker Charter Schools is its own entity with its own board of directors, although it works in partnership with Baker School District.

Huld said the school is using funds from its savings to purchase the building, not tapping into its operating funds.

Baker Charter Schools consists of two separate charter schools — the Baker Web Academy, an online or textbook-based K-12 school, and Baker Early College, which allows students in grades 10-12 to complete high school and start their college experience early.

More information is available at https://bakercharters.org/about-us

Baker School District Superintendent Mark Witty spoke in favor of the Baker Charter Schools’ purchase of the Ellingson building.

“We appreciate the strong relationship that we have with Baker Charter Schools and believe this purchase will be advantageous in providing the operational space necessary to continue to grow the service model even further in the State of Oregon,” Witty stated in the press release.