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One of Marco Island's most sought-after land parcels could be switching owners soon.

Marco Island and Collier County School District officials are in talks to possibly trade a 160-acre parcel of city-owned land near Picayune Strand State Forest for Tract K — the 11.6-acre plot deeded to the district by the Deltona Corp. for the construction of a school on the island.

Rumblings of a possible land swap between Marco Island and the Collier County School Board for Tract K, located on the west side of Tigertail Court between Somerset and Century drives, began circling last year after the School District put the parcel up for sale in spite of it having been deeded for a school back in 1964.

The School Board had voted to sell the property to pay for construction of the Marco Island Charter Middle School's permanent home.

Marco Island residents bristled at the idea that the plot could be sold without their say-so, fearing that it would be developed into residences instead of a school.

Although Tract K's 11.6 acres originally were slated to become a school, the land currently is zoned for residential development.

"Deltona gave the land to the School Board for a school," said Ruth McCann, executive director of the Marco Island Civic Association. "If it can't be used for a school, it should still be used for public use."

So when the district decided to sell, Marco Island City Manager Bill Moss said he proposed the trade as an alternative to keep Tract K for city residents.

Marco Island's half of the swap would be a 160-acre parcel in Belle Meade near Picayune forest, which the city acquired as a part of the purchase of utility assets from Florida Water Services in November 2003.

Talks of trading cooled after the school district decided to take the property off the market, but were rekindled in early March.

"Nothing happened for a long time," Moss said. "Then the school district contacted me to say that they had determined that the property had value."

Moss said he forwarded additional information on the property, but hadn't yet heard back from the district.

School Board member Steve Donovan said although he doesn't know where the negotiations are at, he would look forward to seeing the proposal before the School Board.

"It's one of the ways to give the land back to the citizens on Marco," Donovan said. "An approach has been made from the city's side. I have not heard what the district's response has been."

According to Michele LaBute, chief operations officer for Collier County schools, Moss has been in touch with the district and sent the district information on the Belle Meade property.

"We're analyzing the value of the property," said LaBute, adding that the district is interested in the land swap.

However, only after the study is completed will the district make a decision.

"If it looks like a feasible thing then it can go before the board for consideration," LaBute said. "But we are proceeding. We definitely want to look at it."

That's good news to Moss, who said that getting Tract K would have multiple benefits for the city.

In addition to possibly housing a school or community park, the long-standing controversy of who gets final say on what could go on the property would solely be Marco Island's, Moss said.

"The parcel is just sitting there," he said. "Now we might just have a way to resolve issues that have been around for years."