The Columbia Board of Education next month will be asked to consider selling surplus real estate valued at more than $1 million, but proceeds from those sales won’t help the district’s operating budget shortfall.

Chief Operations Officer Nick Boren, who is in his first year at the district, said he is recommending the district sell the properties because they are not being used, not as part of any budget cut proposal.

"I asked why we have these properties and why do we need to keep these properties, and no one was giving me valid reasons why these properties were still owned by Columbia Public Schools," he said. "My opinion, subject to board approval, is that it’s time we consider disposing of these properties if we have no legitimate use for these parcels."

The school board next month is expected to approve cutting $5 million from operating expenses, and the district is asking voters to approve a 54-cent levy increase. Boren said one-time funds generated from potential land sales wouldn’t change those budget needs.

"Keep in mind, if we decide to sell the property, it could take a significant period of time for these properties to be sold," he said. "And, generally, this type of revenue goes back into capital funds to purchase equipment, property, infrastructure and building improvements."

If the school board approves Boren’s recommendation, the district could sell the land at public auction or could list the properties through a Realtor.

The parcels being considered for sale are:

● A 13.42-acre tract at Ballenger Lane and Route PP in east Columbia appraised at $322,000. The district acquired that tract as a donation from a multi-party trust in 1966, according to the Boone County Recorder of Deeds office.

● The Strawn School, which sits on 4.2 acres at 500 Strawn Road in west Columbia. The property, already declared surplus by the school board, housed the Columbia Area Career Center’s adult health occupations classes until the career center addition opened this year. The property is appraised at $475,000.

● A 1.5-acre tract west of Columbia at 4801 Route E, a former schoolhouse now being leased by the Boone County Fire Department for a training facility. The site is appraised at $145,000.

● Lot 18, 65 feet by 125 feet, Citation Drive at the corner of Smiley Lane, northeast of Derby Ridge Elementary in northeast Columbia, appraised at $17,000.

● Lot 1, 70-feet by 144-feet, Derby Ridge Drive, at the corner of Smiley Lane, northwest of Derby Ridge Elementary, appraised at $14,000.

● Three 90-foot by 147-foot lots, Lot 5, 6 and 7, off Oakland Place in northeast Columbia, across the street from Oakland Junior High School, each appraised at $24,000.

● A 0.79-acre lot at Wade School Road northwest of Columbia formerly used for a schoolhouse, appraised at $1,000.

The district is not considering selling the 80 acres southeast of Columbia that Turner Vemer partially donated last year. Officials backed off of a plan to build a new high school there in response to criticism that it was less suitable than other sites that were available.

"That’s a premium piece of property and somewhere down the road could be another school site, whether it be an elementary or you name it," Boren said. "It was donated for that purpose."

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