On July 21, 2025, the Board of Education Real Estate Committee discussed the need for a formal set of criteria and a possible board policy to govern demolition and disposition of decommissioned school properties.

A staff member said the committee needs criteria — not a list of specific schools to demolish — and that guidance from the Missouri Supreme Court had been included in the materials. Committee members asked whether attorneys and outside demolition contractors should assist; staff and members agreed legal review and technical expertise would be required. One committee member suggested checking with the Missouri School Boards Association for model policies.

Discussion emphasized the multiple considerations that should drive criteria, including historic-preservation status of buildings, environmental impacts (air and ground quality), community ramifications, potential revenue opportunities from adaptive reuse and the full lifecycle of demolition projects. “When we're looking at consideration, we need to have some guidance…understand the ramifications from beginning to end, the full life cycle of a demolition project,” one committee member said.

Committee members recommended drafting a policy proposal for committee review and ultimately for board consideration. The chair and members signaled that a working group of the Real Estate Committee — led by Director Henry and others willing to participate — should draft the more detailed approach for demolition criteria prior to formal policy submission.

No demolition actions or list of properties were approved at the July 21 meeting; the committee agreed to prepare a draft policy and to meet as a working group to develop recommended criteria.