Madison County board moves to pursue shelter talks, timelines and sales process for surplus school properties

The Madison County School Board on March 17 voted to continue negotiations with county emergency management about converting Lee Elementary into an alternate emergency shelter and to open a public process for proposals on several surplus school properties, including Greenville Elementary.

Board members said they want to keep negotiating with county officials before deciding whether to list Lee Elementary for sale. "Continue those discussions," the board directed, asking staff to workshop feasibility with the county manager and emergency management. Board members emphasized that retrofitting would be required if the site is used as a hardened shelter and that any sale would be revisited only after feasibility work is complete.

The board also voted to set a public timeline for disposal of the district's surplus schools and other properties so community groups and potential buyers can submit proposals. "Let's give it some time and some thought before we make a decision," Board member Miss Gibson said during discussion; the board asked the superintendent to develop and publish a schedule for accepting proposals.

A specific motion authorized the superintendent to set a timeline for solicitations and outreach on Greenville Elementary. Community proponents at the meeting had urged that Greenville be transferred or negotiated to become a community resource hub. Ryan Cornegate, who presented a preliminary proposal earlier in the meeting, asked the board to "work with us to be a negotiate or transfer of that property to the town of Greenville, so we can work with our community partners to make that a community resource hub." The board said it would keep Cornegate and his group informed while the superintendent sets the public timeline.

The district office building drew sustained discussion because of potential environmental and operational constraints tied to an on-site bus barn. The board asked the district to commission a feasibility study through the district architect/CRA to evaluate relocating the district office and the impacts and costs of moving those functions to school sites. The board attorney advised caution: "Dispose of educational property only in the best interest of the public," and noted state procedure for disposing of educational property under the cited statute.

Separately, the board authorized negotiating with the Madison Education Association Credit Union over purchase of the district annex building and agreed to give the credit union an opportunity to make an offer or obtain first right of refusal, pending review of earlier informal agreements and any existing written lease dating to 2019. The board asked staff to locate previously referenced documents that describe historical use and any commitments to the credit union.

Board members said the facilities committee's recommendation to list several surplus properties (with exceptions such as Lee while talks continue) reflected an effort to reduce maintenance costs and make assets available for community reuse. The board repeatedly emphasized the process will include a public announcement and a deadline for proposals so the district can evaluate competing plans at once.

What happens next: the superintendent will publish timelines and the scope of proposals the board will accept; the district will pursue a CRA feasibility study on relocating district operations; negotiations with the credit union on the annex will proceed; and the board will revisit sale decisions after feasibility and legal review.