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Board reviews unused school property; preliminary title search finds no reversionary interest
Summary
District staff reported a preliminary title search found no reversionary clause on an unused school property; the board discussed maintenance costs, an aging gym roof likely needing replacement within a year and options including appraisal and public sale; staff recommended pausing spending until the board decides.
Marion County School District staff reported that a preliminary title search for an unused property returned no reversionary interest, meaning the district appears to own the parcel free of the special-use clause staff had worried about.
Beau, a district staff member who researched the deed, told the board, “Beau did find this deed, and I went to the courthouse and did a little more research myself, and I see no encumbrance of us being able having a problem from that angle from the legal side being able to do that.”
Why it matters: The property includes a gym and other structures that the district is not currently using; maintaining or disposing of the asset has budget, liability and programmatic implications. Staff reported ongoing insurance and utilities costs and said a gym roof and surrounding roof boards are rotted and likely need replacement within about a year if the district retains the building.
Details and board discussion: Staff said insurance on the property runs “a little under $5,000” per year and that current utilities are billed at base rates because the property is not in regular use. The district estimated that a full roof replacement of the gym would be required within the next 12 months but did not present a contractor estimate at the meeting. Staff said possible uses discussed with principals when the district took over the property a year to 18 months ago were limited by the building’s location and distance from other facilities; presently staff foresee the property being used primarily for storage if retained.
Board members discussed options to remove district liability, including sale or auction. Legal counsel and staff advised that disposition would require a formal public process that typically includes advertisement and opening of bids, with the board retaining the ability to reject bids. Several board members recommended obtaining an appraisal so the board can set a bottom-line price before soliciting offers; others said an appraisal costs money and suggested not spending additional funds until the board decides to pursue sale. One board member suggested limiting further spending on the building while the board considers options.
Next steps: Staff recommended placing the issue on a future agenda with more detailed cost estimates and, if the board wishes, an appraisal and formal disposition plan. No final disposition decision was made at the meeting.
