St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for coming. It's our real estate meeting committee meeting for April 20, 2026. I'd like to call to order. Roll call. Miss Miss Henry present. Miss Nobel. Mr. Watson present. Dr. Barry present. Miss Jones present. Mr. Marston present. Mr. Hikes present. We have a quorum. Thank you. I'd like someone make a motion for approval of minutes for February 17th, 2026 real estate minutes.

I move to approve the minutes from our February 17th real estate committee meeting. Second. It's been motioned and second. Miss Vaugh. Miss Henry. Yes. Mr. Mr. Watson. Yes. Dr. Barry, yes. Miss Jones, yes. Mr. Marston, yes. Mr. Hikes, yes. Motion approved.

Thank you. Next on the docket is a presentation 3.1 from Cigan Clark Capital Improvements. Good afternoon to chairman uh Tracy Hikes and the board members. Uh to uh Dr. Myra Bry, who is our official and formal and muchdeserved superintendent of this great district. That's not hyperbole. Uh to the uh other district and school leaders and to you, the listening audience, both virtual and physical, uh it's good to be able to be here. Uh before our team uh from the Cordig and Clark side of of our delegation comes, we thought it'd be good just to revisit the path we've traveled. Uh this is not foreign to this committee. So we just want to take a quick trip down memory lane and then we can pass the baton to talk about next steps and future projects. So if you will indulge me um we pass we've had some pass outs um of our short presentation. Uh we want to talk about our construction update uh with proposition

as bond issue uh which includes but is not limited to these five agenda items uh projected schedule, project scope summary, project budget summary, propest promises made and promises kept and summer 2026 propest projects. By the way, uh Chaz Jacquis with Navig building solutions. I think most of you all know me, if not all of you all, but for those that may not know us, uh my colleague Amy Miller is here. Uh we're part of the uh owner's representative team to be an extension of this great district. Next slide uh is um an array a project schedule uh array shown with arrows uh from our agenda. Oh yeah, technology, right? There we go. I have the power. Uh projected schedule uh which from the left side to the right side our schedule is in quarters, summer, fall, winter, spring and then from uh north to south on the left hand side uh delineates the activities that are included in Proposition S from auditoriums all the way to windows. Um if you look at the blue arrows the arrays uh these are the uh the arrays that delineate from what when the uh the activity started and when they're projected to be completed. Uh there are some arrays that have uh gaps. Those are intentional because you can only do certain work in certain seasons like playgrounds. So, uh, and then lastly, there's a red column that just indicates where we are on the schedule to date. So, obviously, we're around, we're still in the spring 2026, uh, season, even though sometimes it feels like summer right now in April.

So on our next slide, uh to summarize all of the work, uh from whiteboard installations all the way to auditorium upgrades, uh the numbers that are shown capture all of the schools that we have touched uh to date with the bond issue, which was uh passed by the uh public in 2022. Uh so I'll go through this uh very quickly but thoroughly. 571 whiteboard installations districtwide. 16 schools received stair tread replacements. 30 schools north, central, and south uh had painting in some form of fashion, whether exterior or interior. Eight schools uh from the navigating cordigan side received lighting upgrades making them LED efficient both again exterior and interior. However, we divided and conquered. The facilities teams led by Chief Watson and his team also did lighting upgrades uh within the school district. So many schools uh were touched uh outside of the ones we uh were able to manage. Fire alarm upgrades, six schools. Same thing with facilities teams. 100 uh door openings were replaced. uh whether it's closers, whether it's hinges, whether it's hardware uh or the slab itself. 45 restrooms, men's and women's were upgraded. Six new 10 resurfaced. 84 benches on the playgrounds predominantly obviously at our elementary schools. Uh flooring repairs, VCT or vinyl composition tile. 18 schools receive replacements. CPT represents carpet and hardwood refinishing. So 19 and 12 respectively. Roofing weather replacement, repair, restoration, 15 schools, masonry, tuck pointing, restoration, six schools and three schools receive auditorium

upgrades. That is the work today. If we move to the next slide, the promises made and the promises kept. These were the seven categories uh that uh are inclusive of Proposition S. um from hazardous material abatement and disposal to HVAC upgrades to building infrastructure uh which is the envelope the roofing uh the masonry etc safety and security improvements academic performance improvements interior building enhancements lighting painting and then outdoor learning spaces i.e the uh playgrounds. So from those seven categories, seven buckets, uh we're to the tune of 157 million, not including the professional services. Uh we're working with Chief Watson and operations and the team um as all of our worksheets are fluid as we get uh collect pay applications and invoicing from the respective vendors that are part of Proposition S. So uh but this is a snapshot of where we are along with the the dollars and cents. We also uh are picturizing this in a in a pie chart. Um so from the seven categories you can kind of see what percentage of the bond issue uh went to each category or each bucket. Uh obviously HVAC upgrades with 37% received the most. Um and then outdoor learning spaces along with academic performance improvements receive the the least. Um and I think it's no mystery or secret that our buildings have a lot of deferred maintenance. So,

we're trying to get our buildings at least up to equilibrium and then of of course take it to the 21st century. So, we got to focus on the unattractive parts of the building, the roofing, the windows, the masonry before we make it pretty on the inside. Uh, but we did show some love to our scholars. So, they are first and foremost. Uh, so that's the breakdown of uh prop Proposition S projects in a pie chart. And then some pictures. Pictures worth a thousand words. So I'll whiz through these. Again, you've you this committee is no stranger to this. We uh touch some hazardous materials whether it be lead duct cleaning in the restrooms and then pucks behind the old blackboards before we install the white boards. HVAC upgrades from Bush School of Character to Dwey is um and all in between from North Central South. Uh the lion share of the work went to the HVAC upgrades, chillers, boilers, chilled water systems, fluid coolers, um and that sort of thing. Uh even down to heat pumps. So we touched everything uh from north, central to south, roofing replacements. Um, some roofs needed complete replacement replacements, some just needed restoration, uh, and some just needed some miscellaneous repairs. So, um, we are still engaged with facilities and Chief Watson and his team in assessing which roofs need uh to be addressed before warranty um, expires. Restroom renovations. You notice that Lovature not only received roofing, we touched the roofing and then now that we're in the dry, we went ahead and renovated some restrooms in Lovature. So, you can see the before

and after pictures. Again, pictures are worth a thousand words. We also did some restroom renovations in our um elementary schools. uh wall bridge in particular before and after painting improvements uh from elementary to middle to uh high school. So this is Gateway and Yagman before and after. And then uh this past uh year our auditoriums there's three auditoriums Metro uh Central and Vashan. Uh we made some improvements and each of the principles, school leaders were tremendously happy uh from the principal all the way to the staff. Right now we are currently uh at Gateway STEM. Uh we are very aware that uh there's two high schools under roof right now and there's a lot of scholars. So we've taken precaution. We're in touch with Dr. Barry and her team. uh the other Dr. Barry, Dr. Juneberry over at Gateway STEM and working hand and glove just to make sure that we don't have any hiccups. Uh we're talking on a constant basis. We understand there's also the autism uh group that's there. So, we're very aware and cognizant of that as we renovate and um proceed with the with the build. So these are some renderings from our team from Cording and Clark uh that shows the esports on the top right in the middle the gymnasium and then on the bottom right there's a elevator new elevator uh addition just to the right of that entrance that north entrance. Uh and so these are some renderings. The next slide will show you actual work that is in progress

uh from left to right, top to bottom. uh that whole that I just mentioned about the north elevator. Uh there's an elevator foundation work that is in motion. Uh complete four stop um uh elevator that we're building on the outside of the building to include it and make it homogeneous with with the fieldhouse itself. CMU down uh top right CMU block walls in the lower level. These are going to be the new team locker rooms, both women's and men's. So you can see work in progress from the masonry uh contractor. Then bottom left, the electrical rough ends in the esports room. There's a lot of electrical uh that has to happen in order to support uh the academics uh for that esports classroom. And then bottom right, uh we're demoing some pockets in the gymnasium to make some improvements there, bring everything up to to to be code ready. So just wanted to share with this committee. There's some some progress photos at Gateway Step. Our next slide is also uh for CVPA which is currently being uh bidded out uh to the construction industry. We're expecting bids to come in to date uh May 8th, but inclusive of the CVPA uh CSMBB edition. We're going to update and upgrade the signage that will be the pilot for the school district. And I don't need to mention why. I think everybody understands why CBPA CSNB is the pilot for the district to carry the day. So this is just a quick and dirty presentation to remind the committee and the listening audience both physical and virtual uh from whence we've come. Uh before we turn it over to our friends at

Cordigan to take us uh further beyond this build. Are there any questions, comments, concerns? Anyone have any questions for Navigate?

Yes, I have a question. Uh it was in regards to the athletic building renovation and I wanted to know about the pool. I remember there used to be a pool. Uh do we have a pool anywhere in the district now? The only pool I'm aware of is at Vashan that's active. Uh but Chief Watson can tell you a little bit about that pool. We don't have any uh management activities currently in that space. U there is older pool at Gateway Stem that was an alternate to this project. So, if funding allows, that's something that we can consider uh before we complete the project.

Yeah, I remember taking the tour and uh that conversation happening. Uh so, you you were saying that there is a pool. The pool is open at Vashan now or not? The the pool at Vashan is not open. I think they don't have an instructor or teacher for that um program. Um but that that pool was the last active pool that we had in the district. Okay.

And the last question, you talked about the uh outdoor renovations at uh the school, the 3% for the maintenance of the yard, the exterior, correct? uh the playgrounds were to either be resurfaced

or new, you know, have new equipment. I noticed that uh because I was looking at uh Wallbridge, not Wallbridge, but um uh Mason and a couple of other schools and I really appreciate uh all the work that's been done on the schools. But I wanted to know uh just say for instance like at Mason as I sat there and watched the children play and when they were sitting down to eat lunch or whatever they were doing um there was not a place that was real shady. there was no shade uh on the new benches that they had. They had new benches and all of that, but is it possible in the near future that uh some type of additional shading can happen on the asphalted playground? Because I know it gets extremely hot during the summer months and even though it might be a place where they want to come outside and have an educational activity, it's still tremendously hot because there's nothing I Who wants to sit on a bench and the sun is beaming down on your head, even if it's a new bench?

Yeah, I uh board member Jones, I don't see why that can cannot be included in future projects. Uh again, our our first order of business was just to get things back to equilibrium. The benches that were are now new were replaced, you know, one for one replacement. So, that was just step one, getting a new bench. So, you know, future steps could include or not be limited to, you know, the things that you're alluding. So, is it possible to get a guesstimation on how much it would be and get some drawings or something? Uh, so that

Yeah, that's a great question. Actually, our friends at Cordigan have are almost complete with assessments and in their master planning effort. So we can certainly look to work together with them and Chief Watson to figure out and game plan. All right. Thank you.

Yes, ma'am. I'm just going to um state that I did ask Chief Watson a couple times um what can we do as far as like shading, not so much on the playground, so we'll put that to our notes, but also just um to help even with the aesthetics when you're walking in how it looks planting trees or flowers. and Chief Watson did mention that we might have some community partners that may be able to assist in that as well. So, we'll check into that and also get information on the operational of the pools. Yes, ma'am. Is there any more questions for Navigate? Thank you very much, sir. All right. Thank you. Now, we'll turn over the baton to our friends at Cordig and Clark.

Okay. talk about master planning and potential future projects. Feel free.

Uh good afternoon everyone. Uh my name is Steve Eskin with Cordon Clark and with me I have Mr. Tony Duncan and also Miss Tiffany Duncan. So we are pleased to uh provide an update in terms of uh some of the things that we're doing relative to master planning and other items. Next slide please. So, our agenda for you today is relatively brief. We'll give you a short summary of the master planning uh efforts. We'll also discuss uh the Vashan athletic fields uh districtwide uh building signage and wayfinding just building upon what uh our partners over at Navigator just described as well as districtwide electronic access control systems. So, next slide, please. Oh, I guess I should do that. Thank you. All right. Okay. So, as you recall, uh, not to go through too much history here, uh, we had, uh, back 14 plus months ago, we had surveyed uh, 6 and a half million square feet. We, uh, analyzed more than 10,600 data points, and we put together this list of uh, deferred maintenance items that were identified throughout the district. These are categorized by year. First column is uh, for school year 25 to 26. Second column 26 27. And what we do is we identify those needs for the district uh, the immediate and near terms. Uh throughout the current term, we're looking at about 28 million plus dollars worth of deferred maintenance. Uh the following year, we're in 76 million. The following year after that, 69 million. And as we go through year 2031, that number is approximately $440 million. So, as you can imagine, there's a tremendous amount of deferred maintenance for the district in those specific categories in site, building envelope, roofing, structure, interiors, and so on. So the district clearly has a tremendous need in terms of some of these deferred maintenance items. Some of these system improvements are

can be broken down in terms of restrooms, uh roofing, exterior fencing, uh asphalt paving, HVAC replacement, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, uh electronic access controls, uh security vestibules, whether they be new or renovated facilities, uh science, technology, engineering, mathematic labs, window replacements, door replacements, elevator improvements, kitchen, uh electric service panels, fire sprinklers, which are code requirements, uh ad accessibility ramps, which of course are code required, uh stair tread replacements, locker rooms, gym, and flooring. Many of these items uh apparent many of the items that were shared by uh our partners at Navigate as part of the previous uh prop bond programs. As we move forward, we talk a little bit about the Bashan athletic fields. I'm going to share with you three distinct options. We have them listed as option A, option B, and option C. What we're looking at basically here is uh is your uh existing conditions for the facility. Uh you see on the northwest corner is the uh building itself. And on the right or the east side of the page, you start to see the uh uh the uh the track and the available field space. We have very um it's very much an undefined practice field at this point. Uh there's no performance track available. There are no bleachers currently available. There's no on-site restrooms, no on-site team changing facilities, limited visitor parking, and limited site lighting and fencing. All important elements of all athletic facilities. So, the first option I share with you is option number A. Uh what we've done is we placed a new competition field which has a turf field. can be used for soccer and other facilities as well as well as a six lane track uh that's positioned uh

on the east side. Um so we have a renovated practice field, we improved field access and we've incorporated a old weather performance track, maintained existing parking and existing facilities. Option B is very similar how what we've done is we've added u bleachers, we've added changing rooms, concessions, and additional site parking for approximately 80 persons. Option C is a little bit different yet. Uh we've taken the athletic uh football field and we've turned it into an east west configuration, placed it on the northeast corner of the site. We have now have the competition field, the performance track, home visitor uh bleachers, changing room, concession, sight fencing, and in this particular case, we've added an additional 120 parking spaces. So again, this gives the uh the ability to have even more uh parents, family, and friends to uh to participate and enjoy those outdoor athletic fields. I'll quickly jump forward to uh district wayfinding and signage. I think it's import to note that this is for obvious reasons uh a security issue, but this is also an initiative that has been championed by the local fire marshals. So, the fire marshals have gotten together with other first responders, uh police, um uh ambulance and other districts developing a strategy and a set of code guidelines which we as designers use in terms of development of this way findage and building signage. uh what navigate described earlier as part of the pilot program at Ca includes many of these elements. So that would be the pilot program and what you're looking at here is not an SLPS project. I did this intentionally so we're not looking at any floor plans for security purposes but rather giving you an idea of what these overall wayfinding security requirements look like. One of the things that's really key to this is the ability of firefighters to actually

enter into a building that is contained within smoke. The idea is that we are color coding various zones of the building. We're providing specific signage, numericals, decals, and things, allowing first responders to come in and address the needs of uh the building itself while maintaining the safety of those students and teachers. So, what you see here is a quick color coding of what a typical high school might look like. Uh the building will be cut up into various zones in terms of areas, and each of those areas would have a respective color coding. What you see here, and it's a little hard to see, is that all of the perimeter windows, perimeter doors, and interior door openings will all be assigned specific color codings and signage and wayfinding elements, whether they be numbers or uh numbers and letters. They clearly identify the individual components of egress and ingress. Again, for the purposes of first responders, what you see here is a sampling of what some of the design drawings for this particular effort look like. Uh we are looking Uh again, you're seeing recommended signage. It'll be placed on the uh interior of windows. Uh you'll be looking at exterior doors. We'll be numbering and labeling interior classrooms. As you can imagine, many of your classrooms um are quite old and the numbering is a little bit um it's kind of evolved over a period of time. We'll need to go through and make sure we can organize those numbers and rooms in a fashion that is easily understood by first responders while at the same time working with the building principles and administration. And then we'll also make sure that we are identifying all of these doors, windows, and such both down low for firefighters who are going to be uh entering these buildings in a smoke fil environment so they can see the numbers down low. We'll see numbers up high. We'll also see threedimensional signage above each of the doors so we can observe it as they look down those corridors. Uh we'll also be looking at individual wayfinding. We talked earlier about just

doors and windows. Now we're going to be looking at things like as we get to a corridor, as we get to assembly spaces, how we can provide proper and uh accessible signage in those locations as well. The last item I want to share with you is uh electronic access control systems. Uh this is a new initiative that we've been asked to assist with in terms of providing uh not for all doors and all windows throughout the buildings but rather providing electronic which is nonkey access for front doors, back doors, uh areas where teachers, uh athletics, food service might be getting access to a building. This will make them uh safer by minimizing the number of keys that will be required. Also giving the district greater supervision and accountability through electronic access control systems. So we're looking at opportunities to provide these uh elementary and middle high schools uh based upon the individual characteristics and needs of those individual schools. These provides better uh accessibility along the building perimeter and entry points. uh also provides uh better access and key controls, building access time and scheduling. And the best part is providing validation in terms of determining who visitors uh are coming in and out of those buildings at those critical entry and exit points. A lot of information. I tried to keep it short and brief, but uh any questions that you all may have.

Anyone have any questions? Yeah. Quiet today. I guess my question is around signage and the example that you gave is is just for not just for central VPA. You're talking about the entire district, right? The CVPA is intended to be a pilot that'll be part of the current project which is out for at this moment. The intention is to take that pilot program and develop it for other dis other buildings throughout the district uh so that we can provide those level of safe secure signage elements for all district facilities.

So that's indoors. So outdoor what would it look like?

So a couple of different things when I uh there's two different components. I talk about wavefinding which is basically uh it might be a sign getting to the building. Wayfinding might be saying athletics to the left, academics to the right. We'll also looking at individual things like where is the front door? Uh we also want to make sure we can number and clearly identify those front doors. It might be door number one, number three, number five. Those we're starting to get into what do first responders need to see should they come to the building in the event of an emergency. So, we're not only trying to get the visitors and parents and folks who may not be familiar with those buildings to the correct locations, while at the same time allowing first responders who are familiar with the buildings, but need to get to a specific area in a timely manner all the information they need to keep those students safe.

Okay. All right. Thank you.

Um I just want to say thank you. I am really excited about um these updates and safety measures as we know was an unfunded mandate. However, I think this is um really going to be helpful especially when it comes to our emergency personnel being able to immediately get if someone maybe is having a seizure or need to get to that room immediately. So, thank you. I have seen the key cards in action and so um I'm very appreciative of being willing to start that process. So, um way to go, Chief Watson. I do have a question around the three options. um particularly I just I I do like one more than the other. My question is is there a way in one of these options maybe even around see if there was a um you could close in to where the players or the team would be able to get from the field from the building to the field without having to um go outside a parameter so it's only with them.

Absolutely. These are initial concepts designs just for discussion. Your comment is a is an excellent one. there is the opportunity to get them from the athletic um portions of the building which are on the east side of the building. How we can get those students uh safely as you mentioned indoors from that space to the locker rooms and then get them outside to the athletic fields in the most expeditious way. So we'll be happy to uh evaluate those options further and uh provide some additional concepts for your consideration.

Just have one question with the gate card application. Is there any way they can integrate the camera system with it also so they can al just for security purpose for a security officer so they can see who's at the door prior to opening it you know what I mean so it is you're asking a very very good question but a very complicated question on the one hand we have electronic access controls which is really functions of doors uh that can be incorporated with digital technologies and video surveillance that would be something we'd certainly love to uh to have conversations with operations on make sure integate those two very important elements.

Thank you. And I'd also like to go along my superintendent with the uh with the field where they can navigate without going outside. That would be that understood. Thank you very much. Any more questions? If not, thank you very much, sir.

Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Stuart Keading. I'm the executive director of Landmarks Association, and I'm here today to pitch the uh uh Dr. and Chief Watson and interested members of the school board on a two-day schools summit to go over the history of the architecture of St. Louis schools, talk about redevelopment opportunities, see some um uh some success stories, uh go tour some success stories of redevelopments of the school buildings, and try to foster a better working relationship between the school board and SLDC, the development community, and the historic preservation community. As you're aware, we have uh some magnificent building built stock here in St. Louis, and we know that there are going to be some school closures coming up over the next few years. Our position at Landmarks Association is that these are not just big financial assets on behalf that the school board owns, but they're huge taxpayer investments in the future generations of St. Louis and they represent um they represent a really big

commitment to uh civic engagement in the city of St. Louis. So I was reading about the opening of the Roosevelt School, for example, in the early 20th century. And when they opened Roosevelt School, there was a parade and 20,000 people showed up to celebrate the opening of the school, which is kind of hard to imagine in 2026, right? So we want to do what we can to preserve these schools. They were state-of-the-art. They were built, you know, with the comfort and the education of students in mind. And we want to make sure that when these buildings are decommissioned uh moving forward, we have a plan in place that makes sure these buildings don't just sit and start decaying, right? Because we have um copper and metal thieves come in, they take the gutters off, they they start breaching the envelope of the building, water gets in, and what could be uh you know, a $5 million redevelopment project turns into a $30 million redevelopment project. and we end up with these just these assets just kind of rotting in the middle of neighborhoods and bringing down the property values uh for the surrounding neighborhoods and then basically you know devaluing uh the tax base for the schools even further. So, we would like to find some time in June to meet with everyone uh possibly at one of the school buildings. Do a bus tour of um do a bus tour of two successful redevelopment projects. have uh some speed dating with people in the development and uh uh community engagement uh communities to talk about different uh financial and logistical aspects of uh turning these build adaptive reuse of these buildings and um also participate in a design chet where we bring in a bunch of junior architects to take a look at the Uclid school and figure out different ways in which the Uclid school can be repurposed whether that's residents multi-use um community services institutional tenants whatever but we would like to um have a really strong working relationship moving forward um on behalf of the buildings and the people of St. Louis to make sure that we can preserve these as best we can. That's all I have.

Thank you so much. And that's that's in my opinion that's very important because these buildings they don't make them like that anymore and we'll never make them like that again. again and as many as we can say, we would want to do our best to try. So, I appreciate you taking the time and to bring this to our attention. And is there any questions for this young man? I just want to echo what Tracy just said and say thank you again for taking the initiative to make this proposal and help us repurpose our vacant buildings.

Yes, thank you. I do know uh I think the Missouri History Museum is also doing something this Thursday to talk about the architectural texture of um our buildings. So, we will be present for that at six o'clock at the history museum. But my question is um I know you mentioned Uklid and I know we've had our buildings listed for quite a while and you're right, they are beautiful and there are some great things that can happen with them. But buildings like Uklid that we know have been sitting idle for quite a long time. Um why is it just the now there's a need um once we present it to the community that we want to do a demolition. Is there a reason why it's a a now? It hasn't been for the last 10 years.

We actually at Landmarks have worked on the schools issue um for uh many years. We actually had I think back in ' 89 we worked with the school board to do some bond funding to to redo windows on a lot of the schools. Um uh this is actually my third month on the job which is part of why it's now was I think I was my second first or second day on the job the demolition alert went out and I was talking to the previous executive director and this was a big issue that he's been trying to work on but he was looking more towards the future closure of schools with the idea that the school the schools are school buildings are the most ripe for redevelopment the most ripe for adaptive reuse the moment they close right that's the best opportunity you have to maximize your value for those assets assets and it's also the best opportunity we have as a community to preserve those buildings. So because uh because that's a fire, that's a house fire that's coming, you know, hopefully two, three years down the line. That's one that I wanted to start paving the way for now. The school demolition, especially with Uclid school, where I think that is salvageable both from a real estate perspective and from the quality that the building is in. Um that was something that I thought we could maybe work on now um and try to find a developer together to uh to kind of make the working relationship in the future easier.

Okay. And then um you mentioned working on it now. So are you only able to do one building at a time? I asked because I know you mentioned June and you are we you're right we are making decisions quickly and so June is a little late for us to start talking. So I don't know what the timeline could look like for you just to have conversations around potentially building uses or redevelopment. I mean we could uh we could put something together sooner for Uklid um and we could organize a design cheret and get developers around for that. Uh that would not necessarily have to be part of a school summit. we talk about the future issue of what happens when schools are decommissioned. Uh because I know that they're they're technically two separate issues and I wasn't sure what the what the decision-making timeline was like on Uclid. Understood. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Dr. Bar. I'd also like to add from a legal perspective that if anybody, including your organization, is uh interested in partnering with St. Louis public schools, please reach out to our community partnership um office and they can help put into action a program and a memorandum of understanding um that formalizes the district's relationship with organizations like yours. That's very helpful. Thank you. I'll give you a business card.

I have a question for the um bus tour. It says school board decision makers. Do you have any idea specifically who you would like to I would like to have the members of the real estate committee be there and then um uh Dr. Barry and it's really I don't I don't know what the what the board of education or the school board's um uh schedules are like. So it's you know we would like to have the people there. We'd like to have as many people there as as can be there. Understood. Any more questions? No. Thank you very much sir. Thank you. I appreciate it.

Community collaboration installation.

Yes, we will have a short presentation from counter public. They would like to install Good afternoon everyone. Get the presentation going. I'll get started. My name is James Mali. I'm the executive director of an arts organization here in St. Louis called Counterpublic. Um it's a citywide exhibition. Um we realize um public art projects in parks, gardens, vacant lots, um museums and galleries, as well as hopefully um a uh the Turner Middle School in the Bill neighborhood. Um I'm not sure if there are visuals coming up. If not, I'm happy to to speak to you um openly and can share slides after. Um, so Counterpublic is getting ready for our fall exhibition um from September 12th to December 12th of 2026. We're working in neighborhoods uh across the city um including in the neighborhood as I mentioned, Grand Center, Tower Grove, as well as the Mississippi Riverfront. Um we'll present about 50 artist projects of all scales um from murals to permanent public artworks. Um, and kind of throughout our our work, we um look to connect St. Louis's histories as well as its futures. So, we invite artists to take up um kind of different issues that are facing our community immediately. So, out of this for 2026, um we've been working with artists and community members who are interested in kind of

telling a story of the Stow Teachers College. Um and so uh through that um working in the bill we have been working to interview um still living um attendees of Stow's uh teachers college as well as their descendants in the community um and are looking to realize a series of four um public artworks uh temporary on view throughout the community. I'll speed through. Um, so as you're likely aware, Stow Stow Stow Stow Stow Stow Stow Stow Stow Stow Stow Teachers College um was founded in um Sumar High School. It has had multiple locations throughout its history including currently being part of Harristo State University. Um so through this we're looking to activate different um the different locations the school was in. Um so here you'll see uh Turner Middle School um as it was originally um when it opened in 1940 um product of multiple years of uh construction. So, the proposal is to kind of take this historic image um and the placement specifically of the flag pole and um install a temporary flag pole on the site for three months this fall as with a commemorative banner that has the historic school colors and name. Um so, this would be viewable at different locations including Harristo State University will be a location for this artwork. um as well as the Simmons Elementary School, which was another location just one block to the north that is privately owned now by the Florida Lee Development Corporation. Um so at this time, we're u asking for

permission to install temporarily um a flag pole that would be fully um permitted and engineered and as well as the temporary banner um to be on view for three months. If there is interest or desire, it could remain longer. Um but for the purposes of this meeting, we're just um seeking for three months permission. Um finally, the last component is um as you can see on the building currently um there is a sign that says Turner Middle School um historic looking at historic records behind this etched into stone is its uh the Stow Teachers College name um beneath this. So we're also asking for permission to temporarily remove this sign um for for the kind of historic context which we could replace at the end of the exhibition should it be of interest. Um that is all I have for now but I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Uh again another thank you um and thank you for honoring the history of these buildings and communities and hopefully this will help spur interest in redeveloping them. Also, um I'll just mention 20 years ago, actually in 2006, my wife and a friend and I did a very similar project in Old North St. Louis called Word Up where we had banners with uh Langston Hughes poem on them. We put them on buildings around Old North St. Louis. So, I just it's fun to see this still happening two decades later.

I remember that project, too. So, it's good to hear reminder. Anyone else questions? Yes. I wanted to know what type of display will you have uh further north? Uh I know you said Harris Stow Teachers College, right? But anything really north?

Uh north of the so we are um overall with the project we work um kind of in different focus areas. each exhibition it changes the location. So for this we're working in the Vil and Greaterville neighborhoods. So um Turner Middle School is located um just kind of caddyy corner to Sar High School and then we're also working at the Simmons Elementary School one block to the north of that. Um, so kind of throughout the exhibition in that neighborhood, there will be about a dozen different artist projects ranging from historic um, black churches like Antioch Baptist Church as well as um, we're partnering with students at Summer High School right now um, for the visual arts classes um, uh, organization for the veil um, we've been partnering with on different community presentations as well. So the artists uh have an opportunity to select the subject matter that they want to highlight.

So every exhibition we kind of start with community engagement. Um for this uh 2026 exhibition we met with about 1,400 St. Louisans to kind of hear from them what was on their minds, what they thought the best opportunities and kind of stories that needed to be told. So we invite artists based on those topic areas. Um so it changes every time but this time um there's a big focus on education of course um through this project and others um immigration and climate were the kind of main topic areas for 26.

I guess I'm hoping that uh one of the focuses will be on uh um Porro College uh Madame CJ Walker because that was right there in that area just a few blocks away. So, I'm hoping that perhaps one of your artists will focus on that because it was an educational institution in that area.

That that's a a great reminder. And some of what we're hoping to do is throughout the exhibition, it won't be just kind of static artwork, but it also is a lot of walking tours. Um we're doing funded field trips for students, kind of a holistic view to this. So we would be um working with different community dosent to lead people through the neighborhood and tell kind of an oral history as well. Um and Cororo College definitely has come up because it's as you mentioned just one block away. Are you doing any type of documentary or will you be filming that or

uh we are hoping to uh we definitely will be documenting it in many different ways. Photos, videos. Um, we're working with uh we're going to have a storyteller who works and lives within the neighborhood who also is going to be telling stories from her point of view, but also doing interviews for people um who live there now and have lived there for several generations. So, there's different ways we'll be telling the story, but um video and audio included.

That was a nice segue with my question as well. Um, is it going to, if the board does approve, would it be posted somewhere to where we would know where you could go and when you get there, what you're looking at, not just the flag, but is there going to be signage tell you the history about it? Just so those that want to visit and if they're not going with the tour, but also know exactly what we're looking at. Um, definitely. So, there will be um signage included in that. So, we would have freestanding sign that tells the story of of the teachers college and kind of what you're looking at as well as where else you could see it. So there will be a map included. Um there will be a publication component. So there will be writing about the project that goes deeper as well. Yeah.

Have you uh have you been to the the facility so yet? Uh yes, many times. Uh is it I'm just I'll talk to my facilities manager. Is the is it fenced in right now? It is fenced in. Um will that interfere with what you're trying to do or will we or would you need us to take some of the fencing down. And I'm just questions I got to ask.

We thought about this. So the original proposal there was a possibility of attaching to the building in some type of way, but we decided um that installing a freestanding flag pole would be best. So it will be far enough away from the building as well as the fencing that access won't be an issue and we don't need interior access to the building. Any more questions? I have one. Go ahead. Do you have set data for installation and removal yet or

so? Um it's really flexible up to um kind of the decision of the board, but um it would need to be open on our end by September 9th of 2026. Um our exhibition closes December 12th, 2026. And um we would plan to deinstall it by the end of the calendar year unless if there is any use for it long term whether the infrastructure of the flag pole or the banner itself we would be happy to keep it up long term. Thank you.

Any more questions? Just a plug for legal to make sure that you get in touch with legal counsel um to memorialize any plans and the relationship for the board's consideration prior to asking for their formal approval.

And once again, thank you very much for taking the time out and I appreciate that you willing to highlight even some of our closed school but also the history of it. So, thank you very much. Thank you for considering the other one in the room is going to come and give us a presentation on it. Hello everyone. Can you hear me? Okay. All right. And I have the power. Okay, we will get started. My name is Denine Bond. I'm the president and founder of Hide Park Community Collaborative. Um, it was it was a very odd situation that happened when I got into the Hide Park neighborhood. Uh, my friend and realtor brought me to the neighborhood. I thought I was looking for a home for a friend of mine that lives in Arizona. We were looking for more rental properties

for him. He likes to spend money on rental properties. Okay. Uh, and so we came into the High Park neighborhood and uh, at the very end she said, "I've got one more property to show you." So we stopped over on North Park Place and uh, I was like, "Okay, where is it?" You know, and so then she showed me the house. And so I was like, "Okay." So I said, "Are we going in?" And she was like, "Uh, I'm trying to reach Nancy, but I can't get her on the phone." And I was like, "Okay." I said, "So can we walk around?" And so we walked around the property up the alley that seemed to me to be a driveway, but it was really the alley. And Nancy popped out of the back. Recently, or right about three months before that time, and this was all in 2021, Nancy had lost her husband. They had been married for about I think 45 years, and they lived in that house for 44 years. They raised their family there. And uh she was cleaning the house out. She said her husband had five hobbies over the course of their marriage. and uh she had stuff everywhere. So, as soon as I stepped over the threshold to be on the property, which has four lots attached to it, I felt something. And so, I just wanted to say that before I got got in here. So, we're here today to talk about 1123 Breamman Avenue and redevelopment acquisition proposal. All right. So, that house is my house. I would have never thought that I would ever live in a house like that in my life. It's a two I'm sorry, a two family, but it's a three-story Victorian building 1875. The St. Louis city records say 1890. But the owner, her husband was a was he an attorney for St. Louis City before he passed away? And he did all the research. He was a research man. So, he was like, "It was 1875." She said, "He told me it was 1875." I was like, "Okay." Um, and I wanted to get

that angle right there because that's the angle that's looking towards North 11 Street. So, the property, the Breamman property is behind my house across the alley. But the front end of that property, it's an L, so it is on my street. Uh, this property, uh, is very interesting. Uh it's grown to be a I guess somewhat of a forest on this side of the property. And so I have cut the weeds, cut the trees. Uh we've cleared dumping from this space. Um how do I what do I know? I had this upside down. Okay. Okay. Boom. All right. So, the challenge that photograph up at the very top, you see a whole line of tires. That is on the North Park Place side on my street. And then behind that fence line is the 1123 Breeman uh property. And so recently uh in March we had that all of that cleared. Uh the properties that are on the right burned to the ground nearly uh back in May. So there was a fire that was in November of 2024 that took the carriage house out. And so the person that lived on that porch occasionally before we got her off of the porch uh set the property on fire. So the photograph beneath the photograph on the right are all the bricks because they're dem demolishing

that both of those properties. So we on the block have been dealing with quite a bit. We've had drug dealing, dumping, uh people burning the properties down, all of that on this beautiful block. And uh that that one photograph that's under the word challenge on the very left is the alleyway where all the weeds and stuff is starting to come into the alley. And so that other photograph on the right is where I've cleared to where you can see the fence before it gets to the bushy part. I've learned that I have to do things piece by piece by piece. All right. So the opportunity is 1123 Breamman Avenue has a beautiful gazebo that is hanging on. Um but it's I I see beauty. I do see beauty. All of this property was uh neglected for a while. I think last year there was a time where it was not getting mowed or anything. It was a disaster. But I want to say thank you so much for whoever that company was that kept that grass because we never had to make a phone call or anything. They did an exceptionally good job. Give them a raise. Give them a raise. um that area right outside like you see like it's right outside the gazebo. There's a lot of dumping that's going on. The unhoused are over there. This property used to have an urban farmer, Mr. Nick Speed, on the property and we did a lot with him with planting things and and and things that nature. But since um 2024, the collaboration between Slooh and SLPS went away. And so he had to leave. And so, you know, this is kind of what it's

starting to look like right now. Uh, so there's some shame pots that end up right at or they right at right at uh North 11 Street right near Clay School. So that's where both the shame pot sections are there. But going forward, High Park Community Collaborative and also community partners, we want to develop um you know, make this a beautiful green space. Uh photograph down at the bottom is uh me and Mr. Antoine. He is an urban farmer, uh New Roots Urban Farm over in St. Louis place. I was looking for those glasses today and I could not find them. Um but he is an excellent and amazing urban farmer. He has an immense array of connections uh for growing food, volunteers, planting stuff. They do a lot of education over there. I've even seen um snakes and iguanas and rabbits and and uh ducks and all kind of stuff over there at his farm. But he has the most wonderful operation over there. There's so much collaboration that goes on over there. So, I contacted him because I I said, "I need you. I need you in hide park. And what's interesting is that I had already communicated with him some time ago to collaborate with him. So this is a wonderful opportunity. And so we've done a little research to find out grant opportunities through all of these and also volunteer opportunities and assistance because this undertaking is pretty big. All right. So this is our vision. Beautiful green space, well-maintained, inviting people to come. a little uh farmers market, an entrepreneur opportunity for our community members that love to create things. I love to create things as well. I'm a licensed esthetician. Uh in my home, I also have

a small business. Uh I do customized facials and I also make body butters. Uh I also travel for my business as well. So, I really enjoy that. um but bringing people that I know to the community so that we can begin to start supporting each other in community and also serving the community in that way with a with a market and resources. All right. So this is a little bit about Hide Park Community Collaborative. It's a 501c3. We're definitely uh locked and loaded concerning uh being involved with development, sustainable development in High Park. We were established in 2023, partner with local organizations. I actually have a uh building um that I have been charged with activating at 1426 Salsbury. And that building is key to bringing resources to the neighborhood. And so I'm working and doing things, having events and stuff at that space. And here are this is myself as well as Letta Smith Anthony. She also has her own nonprofit and uh she's really excellent with like food pantries. I don't know how she gets the stuff that she gets uh for our community members. And also Sean Hughes, he is a board member and he is a he is an amazing uh man. He does a lot of work with youth. uh he's uh employed by the Urban League. And this is a little bit of the stuff that we've done. Uh up at the top left uh we were This is the property uh where Mr. Speed was doing the urban farming. So, we were doing some stuff uh with him back in 202. No, I think that was the end of 2023 uh when we were over there. But we've done Christmas stuff, we've done cleanups, we've done um all kind of

stuff. Uh I'm also a member of um Joshua House Ministries on North uh 20th Street and it's just past the park. So I have a business, I have a home, I have I also worship uh in the community. So I'm very deeply rooted and committed to the neighborhood. I'm also in the uh CHW program at St. Louis Community College and uh that program for me started in February. I'm also in the current neighborhood leadership fellows program at UMSL. I'm a graduate of neighborhood leadership uh academy at sil. I went through the St. Louis citizens academy through St. Louis uh police department. I'm also an um an alternate on the uh board of adjustment. I was involved with the strategic land use plan. Um I was a a committee member or steering committee member for that. Love that work. Uh so up at the very top, these are so small. Um but uh uh Captain Stamper uh from the St. Louis Police Department, he must be really tired of my phone calls. I will call him, text him, send him photographs. I'll be in the bushes getting license plates and all kind of stuff. But I feel that collaboration is very important. We have to communicate with the police. we have to communicate with every and anybody that can help us solve the issues and concerns that we have. Uh Beimo Bank is going is is our partner. Uh we're going to be teaching uh financial classes, a whole series of them at 1426 Salisbury. link STL is why I am connected to 1426 uh Salisbury because it's a space that I used to be on that board and um since they see my energy, they say go ahead, you do it, you know, and so I'm I'm

doing it. Uh and then you see Joshua House Ministries there. So two cohorts right now is driving me a little little nuts. Um and so I w to I want to say I want to say uh something before we say the real thank you and and and and that's it. And um I had a prepared statement. But today before I came uh and I was able to run back in the house and print it, uh one of my cohort members from the CHW program, she wrote a very beautiful letter of support and I've only known her since February. Uh she says, "I am writing to express my support for Denine Bond. From the time I have gotten to know her, she has consistently shown what it truly means to advocate for others and show up for the community in a real and intentional way. Denine is someone who is not only passionate about the work, but empowering in how she approaches it. She has a natural ability to uplift those around her while still pushing for meaningful change. Whether it is through her words, her presence, or her actions, she appreciates, I'm sorry, she creates space for people to feel seen, heard, and supported. Getting to know her and witnessing her drive to create positive change has both been inspirational and moving. She carries herself with purpose and poise, and it is clear that the work she does is rooted in genuine care for others. That kind of authenticity is not something that can be taught and it is what makes her stand out. I have no doubt that she will continue to make a strong impact in any space she is a part of. She is exactly the kind of person we want advocating for and working

alongside a community. And this is Natasha Shelton. So I would say that my my final closing was nothing compared to this. I'm glad I didn't start crying. I was crying when I when I read and she sent it. Um, but we cannot do this. We cannot we we cannot deal with this property by ourselves. It takes partners. It takes big time big time partners. And so we do have a list of uh supporters or potential grants that we can uh apply for. Um, and so with that said, please any questions?

Any questions? Go ahead. Um, so 1123 Primman Avenue is part of the school grounds at Clay Elementary. Is that right? Yes, sir. Okay. I just wanted to clarify that. And is Ideal Landscape Management? That's the company that cuts the grass, right? So, they're good. Who whoever picked them? It's perfect. These people are the best. I moved into the community in 2021 and I've never seen that property maintained that well before those people. Even the portion that Mr. speed would do. Uh he still didn't do the other section. So, it's an excellent job.

Uh thank you. Just for clarification, was there a particular ask you had of the board today? I was uh wanting to have the ability to acquire this property and maintain it, make it um you know, a community space. Um I guess a farmers market of sorts. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. How long have you been maintaining this this piece of land?

Well, I had been told not to do anything over there. Somebody said, "Well, you can't be you can't." And so, um I have done as much as I could, like under the radar. Uh but it's been since uh I would say 2020 2024. Um it's been it's been a challenge. You know, I you know, I'm I'm really into making things nice, you know. Um I mean, when I moved into the community, I could have just stayed at my house. I have a nice brick patio, beautiful fountain, four lots attached to my house, and I just couldn't couldn't like stay in there. Uh I lived in different areas in St. Louis City. I grew up in uh the LE Town neighborhood, which is the old Mill Creek neighborhood. I didn't know it was how it was because I live there. Um, but I still, you know, I still have a serious I mean, I guess over time my my mind had shifted concerning what community really is and what community should be. And living in North St. Louis, which I never thought I'd ever live in North St. Louis. I had heard so many different crazy things about what North St. what was going on in North St. Louis. And it kept me from North St. Louis. But not until I moved in North St. Louis that I really realize that these are the strongest, most committed, dedicated, and rooted people you ever see in your life. I mean, with all the stuff that I've been trying to do since 2021, nobody would want to live where I live and and deal with this. But I am in the community because it's my purpose. I mean, I never would have thought to have a neighborhood uh neighborhood um organization if I hadn't been in North St. Louis. North St. This area needs so much and beautiful spaces is definitely something that it needs uh above anything above anything at all. Seeing vacant buildings and uh lots and trash

and stuff like that, it works on your mind. And I've only been been in a neighborhood for a short period of time, but I have to get out sometimes because it's too is it it does something uh to your mind, you know? You know, I can just imagine what's going on with with some of the kids sometimes, you know. Any more questions? None. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you.

Business sale tower easement buyout option. So last meeting Mr. Marston asked for some information around the interest rates. So I did the implied return for each option at each property and also Mr. Joe Fiori is with us on Zoom and he's available to answer any additional questions we have. Hello everybody.

I tried to calculate the interest rate myself. Tell me if I'm close here. So for Nance I had about it's around 5% a year and for long for some reason it's a little different. It's about 4% a year. It's different when you speak about implied return versus interest but you're close. Okay. And then my my

uh my recommendation would be to go with the option one for each one, the lump sum. My thinking is that we need the money now and the rate of return isn't that great as an investment to go with the threeyear or fiveyear option. Um, all just as a clerical thing on the Nance option two, there's a typo. The option two is labeled as the fiveyear as a five-year installment. It should be three-year installment. That is correct. It is a threeyear.

Just what specifically do we What the cell towers going to be used for? Was there for a certain company? Uh yes. Uh you there's the both towers have T-Mobile on them. There's uh Missouri 5038 which is on Morganford Morganford Road in St. Louis. And then you have um Missouri 5036 which is on Riverview Boulevard. Uh they're all major carriers. You have T-Mobile on both of those sites and Verizon on the River Riverview Boulevard site.

And then once they're acquired, what happens with the cell towers then? Are they still used for the same purpose?

Yes, they are still active as long as the carrier is on the site. uh should the carrier terminate the the site uh or vacate for any any reason uh the and we can't lease it up within a very short period of time then it there's a removal clause in both the both agreements that the site the tower will come down. So is on a buyout what happens is as long as the carriers are active the site will remain uh and they will have access to and from the site. Obviously, this is not a a purchase of any property. It's just allowing the carriers access rights uh as long as they are active on the tower.

And you may not know this, but would there be a time if there's a need to do something with the cell towers fix having to go underground potentially cause um any um construction to happen near the school or inside the school, will the carriers or the now new owners be responsible for that? Well, nothing nothing's going to change. Yeah. So, we would still be responsible. The carrier is going to be responsible there. That's why we there's liability insuranceances that are in place. Uh vertical bridge carries a 10 uh10 uh million dollar uh insurance policy on on every site. So, certainly if there's anything that that would happen, uh you're certainly covered.

Understood. My last question um is there a particular reason why the ask um now to purchase or buy out for the um towers?

We typically do it uh when the sites first commence. Um it's been um our landlords have asked us multiple times on why we didn't offer these cash lumpsum buyouts uh when uh when they first commence. And the reason uh we actually started taking a look at this and that's how we came up with the three buyout options. Um certainly it depends on every individual's different. So uh a lot of people would rather have a uh significant cash lump sum up front. Uh some individuals would rather have it over a uh period of time. That's where we developed the three-year and the five-year option um which increased the revenue a little bit more but uh allowed us to uh stretch out the the payments uh you know for six payments or four payments. Uh but really the main reason was uh people can invest their money on a cash lump sum and get a better return than they would uh over time.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Go ahead. I have a question and I think I've been asking this for the last few years about the same location Nance and the cell phone towers and I wanted to know what were the health risk. I know you talked about the three and the fiveyear options and that kind of thing, but uh and the what is it the $10 million insurance, but what kind of health risk would will our children be exposed to u depending on what is going to eventually the usage of that that site.

So, so and and that's a great question. And a lot of people are are truly concerned about the health and what 5G the radiation. The the truth of the matter is that the FDA and I mean FCC um they haven't found any significant uh reason uh that cell towers cause radiation. In fact, you're probably getting more from your cell phone whether you realize it than than the tower. Now, that's not saying if you stand in front of a uh the a the cell tower for for hours each day, then nothing's going to happen. Uh but there's really no significant evidence that the cell towers are are creating any health risk.

So, having it sitting next to a school with young children, you're saying is Well, yeah. I don't think um unless they're unless they're going to go uh I don't know how tall the tower is, you know, 100 feet up in the air and stand in front of the nodes for for hours and hours and hours each day, then I really don't think there's a risk. All right. Thank you. You're welcome.

Any more questions like to make a motion to Okay. So, I just want to make sure that we're doing this in the My recommendation is if the board would like to vote to approve the contract for the lease, then we would do that in open session. If the board, sorry, if the board would like to discuss with their attorney um and get legal advice regarding the proposed contract, we would do that in close session.

It's it's been on our agenda, I think, since July, like every month, and we've discussed it. This this would be the second attorney that we'd be discussing it with. So, I feel ready to go ahead and make a vote on it. A vote on it to take it to the board. Correct.

Okay. I move to approve the contract with vertical bridge for the cell tower easement buyout at Nance under option one which is the lump sum option. I'll second.

Miss Henry, can we have discussion, please? On discussion. So the three-year option provides the strongest returns to the district. So I just want to put that out there. And what is the return on the three-year option?

So for Nance um it's 175 paid over three years at 43,750 a year is 11.5%. And then at loan it's 185,000 paid over three years at 46 250 a year and that is 12.5% and that's the strongest option for both for both. Do you you mind doing a friendly amendment to take off? That's not an annual return is No, it's just implied.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean that's if you look at it as an annual return. I'm beating that just with a bond portfolio. Right now I'm making 6% a year and then you know and I've got an ETF fund. Again it's more volatile than anything the district would do but I'm making like 29% a year. The amount we can settle that if we decide to yay or nay once it it go once it goes to the board we can decide the amount. We don't have to ask for a friendly amendment where you can just we can take it to the board and then the board we can decide on that amount. We don't have to do it right here.

Yeah, we we could have an amendment or just a friendly amendment to approve the contract and leave the option up to the board, but we we could also as a committee make a recommendation to the full board on which option to go with. I I agree with the friendly amendment only because I have a lot of questions still that I would like to ask legal just about um uses of the money the investments I just have a lot of questions that I would like to ask but I am certainly okay with um approving to accept the recommendation to take a recommendation to the full board. Yes. So if you don't mind taking on

Yeah, I'll accept a friendly amendment to just uh say that friendly amendment is that we are approving the contract as the real estate committee uh for the um contract with vert vertical bridge for a cell tower easement buyout at Nance. The option is to be determined. Second, Miss Fawn. Any more questions? Miss F. Miss Henry, yes. Mr. Watson, yes. Dr. Barry, yes. Miss Jones, abstain. Mr. Marston, yes. Mr. Heights?

Yes. Motion approved. And then uh same thing for long. I move to um approve the contract with vertical bridge for the cell tower easement buyout at long. Um and the option will be decided upon by the full board. Second call on the question. Miss Vaugh, Miss Henry, yes. Mr. Watson, yes. Dr. Barry, yes.

Miss Jones, abstain. Mr. Marston, yes. Mr. Hikes, yes.

Motion approved. Next on the agenda is the bus electric bus hub location. So for this item um there were some zoning issues or zoning restrictions rather with our first proposal for skulling school and so the recommendation is to uh find an alternate location which is himstead. Um that is one of the buildings the facilities that was recommended for demolition. Um that closes on on on the 8th of May. Um we wanted to bring this to the committee so that we could provide uh an alternate solution for our electric bus infrastructure which includes charging stations uh at the location at Himstead. So, is there a ask today or this just forformational purposes?

Um, this is a ask for a vote to uh be presented to the to the full board. Someone please make a motion. I move to present Hempstead as an electric bus hub location to the full board. Can I get a second? Second. It's been motion and second on the question. I do have a question. So, uh, are the plans that were scheduled for Scullins, would that be used for himstead?

The plans will be similar. Um I think due to the acreage of the facility it'll but it'll be close in terms of what was proposed with Scullan will have the similar uh conceptual con idea drawings and renderings and um just the layout will be the same at Himmstead. All right. Thank you. And it does include a community engagement uh component too so that we can inform the community of um this opportunity um and you know so it'll be the full-fledged pieces including the community engagement which is important. Thank you. Any more questions?

Miss Vaughn. Miss Henry. Yes. Mr. Watson. Yes. Dr. Barry. Yes. Miss Jones. Yes. Mr. Marston, yes. Mr. Heights, yes. Motion approved. Thank you. Uh, dem demolition RFP. So, the demolition for RFP, it went live last month and we didn't have a um we didn't have a meeting in April. I'm sorry. We didn't have a meeting in March. So, I wanted to make sure that you all know that the dem the demolition RFP was live and it closes on May 8th. And the information to submit your bids um is in diligents in our on fire. So that is not a ask, correct?

No, just FY. Thank you. Next, we have a SLPS open house.

So, Dr. Ward is going to come and go over our flyer. Um, we're going to have the first ever open house um this Friday, and he's going to go over some of those details. Thank you board, Mr. Chairman and Superintendent. Uh thank you so much. We're having our open house here for uh two assets that we have for sale right now. This is the first of many that we will do. We're trying with the first two right now, which is Fergot and also Ford Elementary. And so what we're doing, we have uh sent out press release. We have also connected with aldermen, all the women, also state reps. Uh we also um the senators that's in the area too as well. We have also reached out to developers likewise and also urban planners too as well. We have maelt out over uh emailed over 2500 uh emails. Just today one of the gentlemen said they'll be at the open house for Friday. So what we're doing is having one open house starting at 9:30 to 11:30 uh to talk about the asset and also so people can tour with the community too as well. We also will be doing from uh 1:30 until I believe the time for the second location to Ford Elementary. So what we're trying to do is get community engagement also with the stakeholders in the community to know these schools are available for sale. Uh we also uh spoke with a lot of brokers that are coming to as well. So, we're looking to start with these two assets and each month we're going to uh each month we're going to do two assets a month with open houses to see the attention we can get to uh try to move the production of uh the acquisition for these properties. Are there any questions?

Uh first a comment. That's great news. That's that's fantastic. And um how did Farragut and Ford get chosen as the first two? Well, we were we were going with what wasn't getting as much attention for the schools. Um the main schools been getting attention been Fanning, uh Scullan, um Walnut Park, those been getting more attention. So, we're trying to start from the bottom or right in the middle to get more bring more attention to these uh schools here. And we also trying to get the schools that are in fairly better condition in other schools to see if we could just uh for safety purposes too as well because they'll be walking through uh we'll be providing PPE gear to all the tour people that are touring at the same time. And so that's why we chose those two schools.

Any more questions? And I was going to talk about the safety features as well. I don't know if you or Chief Watts I wanted to talk about how we've already done abatement and then what it looks like if you come visit when we have safety and security. Are there certain areas they can and cannot visit? Should they know to come in with the proper shoes on? Just letting the community know what to expect on tours.

Yes. So, in our email, well, Chief Wson, okay. In our email, we uh stated that we wanted to wear steel steel toe shoes if possible. Um head gear and also protective glass. If they don't have those, we will have those available for the tour. uh the people that are touring. Also, we will have a kiosk set up to where they'll be signing in. So, afterwards, we'll know who has been in the school just in case for safety purposes for us and also protection of our assets because we understand that uh most people outside of our community are going into the school and taking things that don't belong to them. So, so we can have more of a control of that to know who been in for our safety too as well. I hope that answers your question.

It does. Thank you. And I um before board member Jones goes, if we could too after the tour, and I'm sure you will, just make sure that we um visit to make sure that everything's locked up and no one left a door open by mistake and just making sure everything is secure once we vacate the premises. Absolutely. That's why we kind of set the time apart so we can walk through the asset to make sure everything's secure with the security guards too as well and no one is hiding in closets or anything of that nature. So, we'll be all right. My my question was around uh videotaping. Will you be doing that during the tour?

Uh no, we haven't decided to do videotaping. Uh we already have done some commercials that we've been doing on our own. Um anytime I walk to school, I go live with my uh meta glasses so people can know that uh we are touring the school and kind of give a visual of what we're looking at at the same time. I think I asked that because of the historical ramifications, especially when we had the gentleman here talking about preservation and the kind of things that our buildings contain and what would be possibly lost in the future with some of the buildings that we currently have.

Yes, ma'am. That's a good question and also a good statement. So we do have a videographer that follow us uh oftent times when we are touring just for our documentation purposes and we can uh also invite him to come and make that available and create a commercial for the school board if that's what you would like. Any more questions? No. Well, thank you very much for your help and thank you for supporting school district and

thank you so much. Yes, sir. Thank you so much. Thank you board. future business. Our next real estate meeting is scheduled for May 18th. That's during graduation time. So, I wanted to offer an alternative meeting on the 25th of May. It's okay with the superintendent. stand in my lane. Ma'am 26

Memorial Day is the Monday the 25th.

Okay. Can we do the 28th 3 p.m. Okay.

Well, I got bad news. Adjournment. Make a motion to adjourn and go into close session. Second. There's been motion in second on a question. Miss Fawn. Miss Henry. Yes, Mr. Watson. Yes, Dr. Barry. Yes, Miss Jones. Yes, Mr. Marston. Yes, Mr. Heights. Yes, we are adjourned to close session at 4:35 p.m.