SPS board votes to buy office building

The Springfield Public Schools Board of Education voted yesterday to purchase a $1.4 million office building for, a move that allows consolidation of staff members.

The nearly 30,000-square-foot vacant property, 1610 E. Sunshine St., was marketed for sale at $1.59 million by commercial real estate broker Mike Fusek of Sperry Van Ness/Rankin Co. The owner is Duncan Properties LLC, which is registered in the name of Douglas Duncan, according to Greene County assessor and Missouri secretary of state records.

SPS will use the building on 1.8 acres to house the district’s special education staff, as well as other administrative and support staff. The board cited financial savings and efficiency improvements, according to the release.

The district’s special education staff currently works at 639 W. Chestnut Expressway, which SPS has leased for 15 years. as reasoning for the successful vote, according to the release.

Earlier this month, SPS closed a deal to sell a former transportation facility at 1600 E. Chestnut Expressway to the Edwards Family Trust.

The 4.7-acre property, which sold for $510,000 on Jan. 7, was declared surplus property by the board in May, according to a separate release.

The district’s transportation department is now located in a larger facility at 2945 E. Pythian St.