Board authorizes sealed-bid process to sell district 'hub facility'

The Marion County School District Board of Education voted 5-0 to start a sealed-bid process for the sale of the district's hub facility and authorized staff to begin the legal steps to advertise and accept bids.

Legal counsel told the board the sealed-bid option requires advertising in a newspaper for three consecutive weeks, receiving sealed bids within a specified window (the counsel described a 15-day bid period), and the board may reject any or all bids. If bids are rejected, counsel said the board may hold a public auction within 60 days, subject to statutory constraints. Counsel also described an alternative path: conveying the property to a county or a qualifying nonprofit by resolution if the board finds it serves the public interest, typically with a reverter clause that returns the property to the district if the recipient fails to use it for the stated civic purpose.

Counsel cautioned that proceeds from a sale are limited by statute to certain uses such as paying down debt or funding maintenance, not general operating expenses. Board member Joe Bracey moved to proceed with the sealed-bid process; Mister Walters seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Board members asked staff to prepare the required legal memorandum and to begin preparing the public notices and advertisement schedule. The board did not approve a sale price or select a buyer; the action authorized only the process to solicit offers.