CHESTERTON | The Duneland School Corp. board Monday moved to address anticipated growth on Chesterton's east side.

The board voted unanimously in favor of an agreement to spend almost $1 million on properties east of the Ind. 49 bypass in Jackson Township for potential future school construction.

If the board appropriates funds at a later meeting, the district will purchase a 15.8-acre parcel and a 22-acre parcel at the northeast corner of county roads 1050 North and 250 East.

At an appraised $20,000 per acre, the district will buy the two parcels for $756,000, corporation attorney Michael Harris said. The purchase is subject to the board appropriating the funds.

A 20-acre parcel between the two is set to be donated to the town for parkland by developer ATG Jackson Creek LLC, Harris told the board. At the same time, the district will make a donation to the town of half the parcel's value -- or $200,000 -- for use of the parkland during school hours for sports and recreation use.

Under a separate agreement, the town would maintain the park property, while the school district would maintain any improvements on it, such as playgrounds or sporting facilities.

Funding for the purchase and donation would come from the district's rainy day fund, Assistant Superintendent David Pruis said.

Two interstate natural gas pipeline rights of way run through the properties, but would not limit the district's ability to build, Harris said.

The board will advertise for the additional appropriation and return to the matter at its June meeting.