Locating a multipurpose facility on land owned by the Jefferson City Public Schools holds the possibility of creating unique synergies, a civic leader said Monday night.
Randy Allen, president and CEO of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce, appeared before Board of Education on Monday evening to ask them to contemplate the possibility of a deal between JCPS, the Special Olympics of Missouri and Jefferson City.
Allen appeared before the board to share his concept for and ask if they would consider selling 15 acres of Missouri 179 site. About 115 acres were purchased in 2012 with the idea a high school would be sited there.
The proposal calls for reimbursing the district $20,000 per acre - about $300,000 - for a portion of the larger tract. The plan envisions using a southwest corner bordering 179 and Mission Drive.
As envisioned, the project would house:
• Special Olympics headquarters.
• A "civic events center" - which could permit the city's lodging's taxes to be used.
• And a multipurpose facility for the Department of Parks and Recreation's needs.
"We believe there are some joint-use facilities with a future school," Allen said.
Drawings indicate the 84,000-square-foot building would have five gymnasiums, not including the two that might be built if the district builds a high school there.
"That would be seven high-school-sized gymnasiums, which would really provide the critical mass for athletic facilities," he said. "There really would be some synergies on that site in the future if the school decided it wanted to put a high school facility there."
Superintendent Brian Mitchell suggested the board consider creating a subcommittee to study the idea. Two board members - Ken Theroff and Doug Whitehead - volunteered to serve on the group, alongside Mitchell and JCPS Director of Facilities Bob Weber.
Mitchell cautioned the group would be looking to see if the proposal could fit on the site, while allowing the district to meet its own future needs.
"Nothing has been negotiated. I want to make that clear," Mitchell said. "What are the non-negotiables the district would have to have, relative to the costs? Relative to the site improvements? We can't donate the land. We are going to have to get a value for that piece of property, for this to move forward."
Theroff was interested in hearing more about the project, but wanted to keep options open.
Saying he would love to serve on the subcommittee, Whitehead called it a "very complex project, but a very exciting project for our community."
He noted the public schools have a role to play in supporting Jefferson City's economic vitality.
"I think we would need and want to be at the table through those discussions," he said.
"It has a lot of "Wow!' factor in it. I'd like to see where it goes and help shape the conversation."
One community member, Pam Murray, commented the $20,000 suggested price might be too low.
The district purchased the land for about $27,000 per acre, she said, and if it sells it for $20,000, it would mean a $105,000 loss.
And she feels the land - situated north of St. Mary's new hospital - has only grown in value since 2012.
Murray said the district's schools are increasingly more crowded.
"So, given this picture, why is the school board entertaining selling or giving land for a private venture?" she asked. "I conclude by asking you to keep things simple - if it doesn't involve pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades, it really isn't within the scope of board duties."