Committee to seek surplus designation for two vacant school buildings, ask alders to consider using proceeds for school capital needs

A member of the Finance and Operations Committee said the committee will ask the Citywide School Building and Stewardship Committee to consider a resolution to surplus two long-vacant school buildings so jurisdiction can be returned to the city.

The presenter named the two properties as West Rock Stream Academy at 311 Valley Street and Quinnipiac Real World Math STEAM School at 460 Lexington Avenue (also referenced as 805 Quinnipiac Avenue). The presenter told the committee the buildings have been vacant “for quite a while” and noted the district’s budgetary constraints and opportunities to save on ongoing costs such as electricity.

The presenter described the planned sequence if the committee approves: discussion at the citywide School Building and Stewardship Committee, a return to the Finance and Operations Committee, then a Board of Education vote, and finally transfer of jurisdiction to the Board of Alders. The presenter said surplusing would “mean[give] jurisdiction of these properties back to the to the city,” after which the Board of Alders would decide next steps.

Board members asked procedural and practical questions. President Yarbrough and other committee members requested that any memo sent forward make clear the district’s capital needs and how sale proceeds could be applied. One committee member asked whether proceeds could return to the school budget if the city sold the property; the committee’s attorney said that, while past practice has generally not returned proceeds to the district, the Board of Alders ultimately decides, and that “arguably under the statute the jurisdiction over the buildings automatically reverts to the to the city once an educational use ceases.” The attorney added that a resolution giving the board authority to execute ancillary documents has been the procedural practice.

Committee members asked staff to confirm whether district trades or employees remain at Quinnipiac and to perform a physical walk-through to identify salvageable materials before any disposal. The presenter said she had discussed with city officials that, because the district lacks funds to clean out the sites, the city could be asked to cover those costs.

Several board members asked that any materials accompanying the surplusing request include concrete examples tying potential sale proceeds to capital priorities (for example, roof repairs or pool restoration), so the public and the Board of Alders can see the district’s capital needs clearly.

No formal vote to surplus the buildings was taken at the committee meeting; the item was described as being prepared for the citywide committee on June 12 and then to return to the Finance and Operations Committee and the full Board on the described timeline.