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Jackson County approves multiple Endeavor property sales; EPIC STEM proposal tabled for further school coordination
Summary
The Jackson County Commission approved resolutions to allow sales of the Carpentry and Smokestack buildings and signed a contract for the Market Building and Jackson Academy. Proponents outlined plans for an "EPIC STEM" education center at the Jackson Academy site; commissioners voted to table further action until the school district has been consulted.
The Jackson County Commission approved several property sale resolutions and contracts Thursday and heard a pitch to convert the old Jackson Academy building into an education and exhibit center that commissioners agreed to review further with the county school district.
Staff told the commission the county already had signed sales contracts for multiple buildings on the Endeavor property and asked the board to approve closing resolutions the closing agent required. The board approved a resolution allowing sale of the Carpentry building and a separate resolution for the Smokestack building. The board also approved a sale contract for the Market Building and for the Jackson Academy property.
The motions matter because the sales move title transfer and potential redevelopment forward for long-vacant county-owned buildings on the Endeavor site. Staff said the Market Building sale price returned slightly more than its listing and that the Smokestack and Carpentry contracts already were signed, but a closing resolution was required to let the escrow process proceed.
After the Jackson Academy sale was presented, representatives for the prospective buyer described a plan to convert the school into a hybrid hands-on and virtual STEM center called the EPIC STEM challenge center. The presenters said the center would target students age 12 and up, offer scored, hands-on exhibits and virtual modules, and pursue nonprofit status and grants to support programming. They said the center would provide certificate-style outcomes tied to state and national STEM standards and would host school groups and community visitors.
Commissioners asked how the program would coordinate with the Jackson County School District and about certification, scheduling and outreach. One presenter said the plan would “largely enhance” school offerings and use recognized standards; another said the center was informed by Christian values but that the presenters were not “forcing a religion on anyone.” Commissioners said they supported the idea in principle but wanted the school system consulted before the county took further steps.
Commissioner [name not specified in the transcript] moved to table consideration of the EPIC STEM proposal until the next meeting and asked county staff to arrange a meeting between the proponents and the school superintendent so district concerns about curriculum coordination and student access could be addressed. The motion carried by voice/hand vote.
The commission also approved a special workshop to review the county's vulnerability assessment on July 28 at 5 p.m., as requested by staff. The board took the sale votes and procedural approvals by the standard voice/hand method used for multiple consent and resolution items.
The board did not make a final decision on EPIC STEM at Thursday's meeting; commissioners instructed staff to set up discussions with the Jackson County School District and to return the item to a future meeting for further action.
