CAPE SCHOOL BOARD HOPES TO SELL MAY GREENE AND WASHINGTON

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education decided Monday to sell May Greene and Washington elementary schools within the next two months.

Resolutions to sell the buildings were approved during an executive session. The district will advertise the sale of both buildings over the next two months. Interested buyers will be invited to make presentations regarding the potential use of the buildings during a school board meeting Sept. 20.

"Within the next month and a half, some type of decision will be made," said Superintendent Dr. Dan Steska. "The board will accept sealed bids on the buildings and later make its decisions."

Both buildings are scheduled to close after construction is completed on Blanchard Elementary School, possibly by mid-October.

The buildings were originally scheduled to close in May but were kept open after construction delays at Blanchard pushed the project several months behind schedule.

School officials said it is impractical for the district to maintain the buildings because both would require major electrical renovation to accommodate heating and cooling upgrades being made to district schools. The age and design of the two buildings would make them impractical and expensive to renovate, and both require extensive repairs, they said.

In addition, the school district is required to make buildings handicapped accessible. May Greene and Washington would both need elevators. Washington would need two. But both buildings could be usable by other organizations, Steska said.

"We don't want the buildings to be vacant for any length of time once we're ready to move," Steska said. "We're still anticipating moving by the end of September to mid-October."

May Greene and Washington are two of the oldest buildings in the district. Only Louis J. Schultz School, built in 1914, is older.

Washington Elementary School, 621 N. Fountain, was built in 1914. The brick and masonry structure sits on three and one-half acres and originally contained 40,000 square feet. Its size was increased by 16,000 square feet in 1926 and 1931 by adding six rooms and a gymnasium. Renovations occurred in 1967 and 1968.

Washington was appraised in mid-March. The building and surrounding property are valued at $460,000. The surrounding property minus the building is valued at $75,000.

May Greene Elementary School, 1000 Ranney St., was built in 1919. The brick and masonry structure sits on five acres and originally contained 23,000 square feet. The size was increased by 7,000 square feet in 1926. Renovations occurred in 1966 and 1970, bringing the total square footage to 30,000.

An appraisal of the building in mid-March put its value and that of the surrounding property at $350,000. The land alone is valued at $50,000.

Steska said he was unsure why the May Greene property, which is newer and includes more land but has less space, appraised for less.

"It might have to do with the location, the configuration of the building, the square footage, possibly the age of the building and the potential use of the building," he said.

Four groups have expressed an interest in purchasing one of the two properties.

Southeast Missouri State University is the lone bidder so far for the Washington property. Steska said the university might use the building for storage.

Three groups have approached school officials about purchasing May Greene. Southeast Missouri Facilities Corp., in conjunction with East Missouri Action Agency, would like to use the building to provide community services.

Steska said the Southeast Missouri Council for the Arts also has expressed interest in the building. He was unsure what the building would be used for.

First Assembly of God Church also has made inquiries regarding May Greene. The church could possibly use the building as an outreach community service center.

For information

Anyone interested in buying May Greene or Washington schools should contact Dan Steska at 335-1867 before Sept. 15.