Rangitikei District Council is closer to signing a right to occupy the old Taihape College but will push for a better deal.
The council has been working for almost two years to retain the now defunct school for community use.
Under a proposal on the table from the Ministry of Education, the council would take full responsibility for the site.
The council has estimated initial work to bring the site up to scratch would cost $18,000.
It would cost a further $39,000 annually to maintain.