Grain Valley R‑V previews purchase of 8.3 acres adjacent to Matthews Elementary; bond would fund future expansion

District staff told the Board of Education that the district has entered a preliminary agreement to purchase 8.3 acres of commercially zoned land adjacent to Matthews Elementary School, but no final purchase will take place without future board action and voter approval of financing.

What staff said: The parcels consist of two parcels west of the school and one parcel to the east; one of the three contains about 2.92 acres of storm detention pond. The acquisition would increase the Matthews site from roughly 8.9 acres to about 17.2 acres, bringing it close to the 15–20 acres commonly used as a guideline for elementary sites.

Financing and next steps: Staff told the board they plan to use a lease‑purchase loan to acquire the land and had invited representatives from LJ Hart & Company to present terms at the next board meeting; the board was told the draft loan terms were under review. Staff said they would bring a proposed purchase agreement and the lease‑purchase financing to the September 18 board meeting for a formal vote if the timeline holds.

Why staff is recommending the move: District officials said Matthews is the district’s oldest and smallest elementary school and sits on the smallest parcel of land; it is over capacity and projected to experience modest enrollment growth. The district said a new school is not fiscally responsible at the moment, so expanding capacity at existing schools and planning for improvements at Matthews is a preferred near‑term strategy.

Planned uses and limitations: Staff outlined possible uses if a bond measure later passes: additional classrooms, student restrooms, expanded parking and improved parent pickup/drop‑off traffic flow, a larger gym and cafeteria and interior/exterior updates. Staff emphasized that any construction or site changes would require voter approval of a bond measure and coordination with the city’s engineers for curb cuts and traffic improvements.

Questions and timeline: Board members asked whether the district has used lease‑purchase arrangements before (staff said yes, for prior construction projects but not necessarily for raw land in recent memory) and whether the city had been consulted; staff said the city is aware of the district’s interest and that engineering coordination would occur during planning. Staff stated the district would communicate details to the public in the coming week. No purchase vote was taken tonight.

Ending

The board received the information as a discussion item and scheduled a return on September 18 for a possible vote on a final purchase agreement and lease‑purchase financing. No formal action was taken this meeting.