WINONA, Minn. – The owner of Winona Mall, real estate broker John Alexander, is continuing to sell off sections of the mall. Sources confirmed that negotiations are in final stages to sell a section to the Hiawatha Valley Education District, a Winona-based contract agency that schools children whose home school districts aren’t sufficiently staffed to handle. The mall has been owned by Alexander for six years. He earlier sold one section in a little-noticed transaction. A purchase agreement with Hiawatha Valley tentatively for $4.5 million is in final stages, sources said.
Current Mall tenants. Vacancies are substantial. Note store sites 6, 13, 16 and 19.
Hiawatha Valley Ed profile
Hiawatha Valley Education District provides special education services to 14 school districts and two charter schools. The individual districts transport students to HVED facilities in Caledonia, Hokah, Kellogg and Winona. It’s a cost-saving arrangement for the contracting districts, which have 12,000 students all together but which lack expert staffing for students with special needs.
Hiawatha Valley Ed enrollments
> Early Childhood Special School, Winona (PK): 42 students.
> River Valley Charter School, Winona (Grades 8-12): 19 students.
> Kellogg (PK-12): 13 students.
> Hokah (PK-12): 12 students.
> Caledonia (PK-12): 10 students.
The company has 75 full-time and part-time employees. These include psychologists and specialists in recreational therapeutics, early intervention, and behavioral issues. Head office: 1510 Bundy Boulevard, Winona.