Lawrence school board members decided Monday night to keep Centennial School, 2145 La., for district purposes instead of leasing the building or other outside uses.

Community groups had submitted proposals asking to lease the school, which closed in May 2003. The city’s parks and recreation department also submitted a proposal to use the school’s gymnasium for a gymnastics program. The Boys & Girls Club had another proposal to use the former school.

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Board members indicated they weren’t interested in entering into a long-term lease agreement but took no formal action.

“We don’t want to jump into making commitments to another group without having a sense of what our needs are,” said board president Leni Salkind. “We’ve made that mistake before where we’ve worried about leaving an empty space rather than take the time to examine our own needs.”

There was some discussion that Centennial School could be used as a facility for the Lawrence Virtual School or to house some vocational programs.

“I’m excited about revisiting that facility as part of the Lawrence Public Schools,” board member Leonard Ortiz said.

Board member Linda Robinson asked if it was possible to rent out the building at certain times of the day.

Lawrence Supt. Randy Weseman said it looked like each groups’ use of the facility would be full-time based on the submitted proposals.