BESE authorizes staff to pursue transfer or sale of seven properties, flags abandoned Natchitoches site

The BESE Board Administration and Education Finance Committee authorized staff to pursue transfers or sales of seven properties the board still holds, saying the board inherited a small real-estate portfolio when the LCTCS system was created and no longer needs to act as landlord.

Mister Walker, speaking for staff, told members that when he took his role he discovered several properties had remained under the board's control rather than being transferred to the LCTCS system. Walker said two properties are occupied by state or local users (one by the Department of Corrections and five by local entities) and one in Natchitoches is an abandoned brick-and-mortar building with security and health risks.

“We were a landlord,” Walker said, explaining staff want to declare the properties surplus and work with the state land office to appraise and facilitate sales rather than continuing to serve as the de facto landlord and intermediary for insurance claims. Walker said staff will return to the board with detailed reports and with any individual disposal items before completing a transaction.

Board members asked for a detailed report including property valuations, confirmation that current occupants are in good standing and that appropriate insurance and liability coverage are in place. Staff confirmed the Office of Risk Management handles insurance for state-owned buildings and that the board's role to date has been administrative; staff said the properties are effectively revenue-neutral but do impose administrative burdens when maintenance or insurance claims arise.

The committee recorded a motion and second to proceed with the authority for staff to negotiate transfers or sales and heard no objections; staff said they will bring disposal items back to the board when they are ready for consent.