Committee recommends returning two surplus school buildings to the city for disposition

The Finance and Operations Committee reviewed resolutions to formally declare two former school buildings surplus to educational needs and to return jurisdiction and title to the city.

Attorney Michael Pinto joined the meeting to explain that the resolutions clear the way to transfer title and return stewardship of the properties, which had been closed because their HVAC systems were deemed beyond repair early in the COVID era. "These are simply the formal, returning of jurisdiction for the, buildings, ... declaring them surplus to educational needs of the district at this point and returning them to the stewardship and jurisdiction of the city," Pinto said.

Attorney Alexiadis added that while the city holds title to many parcels, the land records can be convoluted because of historical naming and parcel transfers, so the resolution includes authority for the board president to execute quitclaim instruments or other title-cleanup steps as needed.

Committee members asked for final resolution language to be prepared for the full-board meeting and requested that any proceeds from disposition be directed toward district capital needs. Doctor White and counsel said they would prepare formal resolution text for the board meeting and coordinate with city officials.

Discussion: factual presentation and legal cleanup required for disposition. Direction: staff and counsel to draft formal resolution language for board consideration; the committee recommended forwarding the resolutions to the board.