CLAYTON — The Clayton School Board apologized Tuesday for its lack of transparency around the district’s plans for the multi-million-dollar Caleres headquarters and said the property could potentially be sold to a developer.
“We are aware that our initial communication was inadequate, and we apologize for the misstep,” reads an email sent to Clayton residents. “Considering the feedback received, we think it is important to provide clarification on the rationale behind this strategic endeavor.”
The letter from six out of seven board members said “all options for this property are on the table, including informal proposals which we have received since our announcement that could return all or parts of this property to the tax roll.”
The board hopes the acquisition “will open doors for collaborative projects with the City and other stakeholders, including third-party developers, in order to create spaces which mutually serve our students and the broader community,” the letter reads.
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Board secretary Gary Pierson, a Clayton attorney, did not sign the letter. Pierson has recused himself from the Caleres property discussions because another attorney at his firm Capes Sokol represents the seller.
The Jan. 2 announcement of the district’s purchase of the property, set to close in February, was met with swift consternation on social media and in letters of opposition from the Clayton Condo Building Association, a coalition of four former city mayors and a group of residents led by broadcast personality Charlie Brennan.
Most of the concerns dealt with future costs to residents through a loss of tax dollars and the creation of what the school district called the “Empowerment Campus Project.”
Softball fields, tennis courts or other “nonsensical proposals” that have been the subject of rumors are not under consideration for the 9-acre site at 8300 Maryland Ave., according to the letter.
The letter does suggest the possibility of enlarging the Clayton High School campus, which is adjacent to the Caleres property.
“Many school districts strategically acquire land adjacent to their buildings for security reasons. A common approach is to enlarge the perimeter of the school campus, often extending to nearby roadways to eliminate structures close to campus. This additional land becomes a buffer against potential security threats,” the letter reads.
The district’s finances are healthy, and the board does not see a need to raise taxes, the letter states. Board members lastly promised to give updates to the community as the process moves forward.
This story will be updated.
Brown has been part of the corporate name since the company's founding in 1878. Next month, however, that name will be dropped once shareholders approve the change on May 28. (Post-Dispatch video)
