USD 253 Emporia has secured the services of a local realtor to assist in the sale of the Maynard building.
During their regular meeting Wednesday evening, board members unanimously chose Coldwell Banker Emporia Real Estate to assist the district moving forward. Coldwell, REMax Ek Real Estate and Farm and Home all submitted proposals to the district all of which heavily emphasized utilizing the internet and social media to assist with the building’s sale.
Board members were eager to explore the online strategy as board member Jeremy Dorsey believes it could open up a whole new realm of buyers. Coldwell does come with the highest commission rate of six percent.
Dorsey says commission rates factored very little into the district’s decision as the board is not solely focused on securing the highest dollar amount possible.
To that end, Dorsey says there are various options the board can look at when it comes to an ideal buyer.
He adds, with respect to the other agencies, when you look at Coldwell’s track record and planned approach to the sale, they stand out as an ideal partner.
The desire for securing a realtor came about after Simmons Pet Food purchased Maynard and then withdrew its offer late last year. Dorsey, and other board members, believe having the services of Coldwell will help the district to avoid being “burned” for a second time.
A timeline for a sale of the building has not been announced, however, USD 253 Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations Rob Scheib has said in recent weeks that several potential buyers have already shown interest in the property.
In other business, board members held their annual budget study session. The session included an overview of the current budget, projections for future budgets, estimated costs for utilities and insurance and capital outlay planning.
Additionally Wednesday, board members approved the second 2022-23 ESSER III premium pay for all staff, received a student safety presentation from district staff and a 2022-23 school improvement update from the staff of Walnut Elementary School.
The USD 253 Board of Education will next convene on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 pm inside of the Mary Herbert Education Center.
