The fate of long-vacant Millbrae School was sealed Monday as the Millbrae Elementary District voted 4-0 to sell it in hopes of drawing $20 million that would generate approximately $1 million in interest for the district for years to come.
The vote comes after a rocky financial stretch for the district in which it made $1.8 million in cuts in three years. In that time, teachers went without a raise. In October, the Millbrae Education Association filed a grievance with the district. That was postponed until Dec. 15 to wait for Monday night's vote since money generated from the school sale could go toward teacher salaries. If the school was sold for $20 million, the money could be put into an endowment. The interest from that endowment could be used for the general fund by special application through the state. At 5 percent interest, this could create about $1 million in annual income for the district, said Superintendent Karen Philip.
The vote was extremely popular with the exception of District Trustee John Lynch, who was not allowed to vote since he lives close to the property. He did, however, clearly voicing his opposition prior to the vote.
"I oppose the sale of the site because it is a Band-Aid solution that's not going to cure the financial cancer that has been growing in this district the last few years," said Lynch.
The property sale is just one of three options. The District Advisory Committee also recommended a parcel tax and the implementation of an education foundation. The committee suggested all three are necessary in the fight for finances the district currently faces.
"None of these three items are enough in and of themselves. This is a first but very, very important step," Philip said.
Lynch maintained the sale would preclude a failure of a parcel tax in the future. However, fellow board member Caroline Shea disagreed.
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"We did save this asset. Now we need to take care of the children of today," she said.
This January, Shea said, the district needs to begin educating the public on its financial situation and the importance of supporting a parcel tax.
Trustee Marjory Luxenberg echoed Shea's sentiments and added she believes there are ways to manage the money to maintain it as a long-term revenue source.
Millbrae School, at 1 Alp Way, was closed in 1987 and is currently rented out to private preschools providing income for the district. The 10-acre site was recommended for sale on Sept. 14 by the District Advisory Committee. The committee originally submitted a report May 11 supporting the sale of two single family lots. At the request of the community, the group revisited the idea of selling other surplus property. On Nov. 29, the Millbrae School District reviewed the resolution setting dates and prices for a vote. Now the district will wait until March 9, 2006 for sealed written bids.
The results of the bids will be presented to the board on March 13, 2006. The minimum acceptable bid shall be $20 million, automatically rejecting anything less.
At the same meeting incumbents Marjory Luxenberg, Robert Miller and Shea were sworn in for another four years on the Millbrae School District Board of Trustees. Miller was appointed the new board president.
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