SPS to explore sale of Robberson building

Last edited 12:35 p.m., Aug. 21, 2024 [Editor's note: Information on the listing timeline has been added.]

The Springfield Public Schools Board of Education yesterday voted to declare the former Robberson Community School building as surplus property, effectively setting up the process for a sale of the real estate.

The vote was 6-0 in favor of the surplus designation, with board member Steve Makoski not present. The board meeting was streamed on the SPS YouTube page.

Prior to the vote, board member Kelly Byrne clarified the intention of the measure.

"Does this definitively mean that we will sell it?" he asked. "Does it mean that we could potentially roll that back if we found another use for it?"

Travis Shaw, deputy superintendent of operations, said with the board's approval, staff intend to work with a real estate agent to list the 1100 E. Kearney St. property for sale. If the offer is not acceptable or if it's not for a desired use, the board could vote against it, he said.

"We as administration do not see that we have a purpose and useful reason to keep this school building," Shaw said, noting the board’s approval of the measure was “step one” of the process.

The structure spans nearly 40,000 square feet, according to its Greene County assessor listing. SPS Chief Communications Officer Stephen Hall said after the meeting that the property is expected to be listed in the next two weeks and that the assessed valuation would be completed at that time.

The SPS board voted in January to close Robberson and the K-5 elementary section of Pershing School, a K-8 facility, according to past reporting.