CPS evaluating land for new middle school before buying

Columbia Public Schools is a step closer in building a new middle school.

The proposed land for the school is on Sinclair Road near Southampton Drive and is currently owned by the University of Missouri. Last Thursday, the Board of Curators approved the sale of the land which is selling for $2,898,000.

Before finalizing the deal, CPS says it needs to evaluate the land. In an email response, Superintendent Peter Stiepleman said: “Just like any prospective homeowner would approach the purchase of a home, so will we. We’re inspecting the property with a third party expert to confirm what the University already knows.”

The 63-acre parcel was once used for radioactive research at MU in the 1970s, which has some residents concerned.

Stiepleman said the “Nuclear Regulatory Commission was asked to evaluate the entire 500+ acre farm to determine if there were any concerns that would preclude the University to sell. The NRC as well as other community members who live near the property all know the land is safe.”

Before even considering moving forward with the purchase there were about 30 components to the land evaluation the district did including, but not limited to, location, size, water, floodplain, storm sewer, current zoning, annexation, cultural resources, climax forest, telephone, cable TV, gas and electric.

The evaluation of the land will cost $3,200.

Matt Pitzer, 5th Ward councilman, said the district is doing the right thing in evaluating the land.

“I think that anytime you have that sort of situation you just want to take extra steps to be absolutely certain that it’s a safe location,” Pitzer said.

Pitzer also said the school district will have to make sure traffic and safety are addressed before moving forward.

“CPS is going to have to do a traffic study to understand exactly what the impact will be to that area,” he said.

Michelle Baumstark, district spokeswoman, said there were about 3- plus properties the district was looking at.

Stiepleman said the benefit to the property is the location in the southwest part of Columbia.

If all goes according to plan, the middle school will open by 2020. The school is needed to relieve overcrowding at Gentry Middle School.