Learning
(2009-10-13)
Listen Now:
COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
The Columbia Public School District is growing and district officials say they're tying to determine the most efficient way to expand. KBIA's Youn-Joo Park has the details.
null
The Columbia Public School District is considering selling three surplus properties so it can purchase a building. Superintendent Chris Belcher says the building on Paris Road could be the answer to the district's long search for more room.
"We've been looking for three to four years trying to find more space, and we think this might have all the puzzle pieces in place."
Currently Columbia Public Schools have shop facilities scattered throughout town. This means that building services, grounds shop, and equipment storage are all in separate places. Even then, the district must lease space to park school buses. The school district is seeking to change all that by consolidating into one facility. Board Chief Operations Officer Nick Boren says this consolidation would help the district be more efficient.
"So it allows us to bring everyone under one roof because it has an outbuilding to store all of our equipment under roof, and so there's tremendous opportunities for us to not only to realize savings immediately but for future growth."
Boren says the district could gain about half a million dollars in net profit by selling its properties on Van Horn Tavern Road, Route PP, and Strawn. He says there are some interested buyers, but no one has signed a contract yet. The school district will continue to review the proposed Paris Road transaction in the coming months.
© Copyright 2012, KBIA
