Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Flint superintendent asks House subcommittee for $8.79 million to demolish four vacant school buildings
Summary
Kevlin Jones, superintendent of Flint Community Schools, asked the House Appropriations Subcommittee for $8.79 million to demolish four long-vacant buildings totaling 468,896 square feet, citing public-safety costs, recurring vandalism and the district's limited resources to maintain unused facilities.
LANSING ' Flint Community Schools Superintendent Kevlin Jones urged the House Appropriations Subcommittee to approve $8.79 million in state support to demolish four long-vacant district buildings, arguing the structures pose public-safety risks and divert scarce district funds from classrooms.
Jones told the subcommittee the four properties ' McKinley Middle School, Northern High School, Anderson Elementary and Stewart Elementary ' account for 468,896 square feet of abandoned space constructed between 1929 and 1965 and closed for 13 to 17 years. "Every dollar spent protecting abandoned buildings is a dollar that cannot be spent in the classroom," Jones said, and described recurring vandalism, squatting and fires at vacant sites that require ongoing boarding and emergency responses.
Jones framed the request as part of a broader renewal strategy: once buildings are removed, he said the district plans to work with local government, private partners and foundations on potential redevelopment that could include housing, neighborhood projects and job-creating investments.
Board President Dr. Joyce Ellis McNeal and other board representatives described partnerships with the Mott Foundation and nearby nonprofits, saying demolition would allow the district and community to pursue redevelopment aligned with the city's master plan.
Committee members pressed for detail on costs and next steps. Jones said the $8.79 million estimate covers environmental assessments and demolition work and that the district has already invested district resources to demolish two other vacant structures. He also said Flint faces an operational deficit (about $9'$10 million) and that transferring buildings without sustainable funding often returns the liability to the district.
Committee members did not take a vote on the demolition request at the meeting. Representative Beeson and others asked the district for a fuller inventory of vacant properties and additional documentation on prior investments and demolition outcomes; the district said it would supply further information to members.
With no further business, Representative Borton moved to excuse absent members by unanimous consent and Chair Kelly adjourned the meeting.
