Hickman Mills sells Truman Elementary School to Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City

The Hickman Mills C-1 School District has agreed to sell the former Truman Elementary School property at 9601 James A. Reed Road, Kansas City, Missouri, to the Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City (ISGKC), a Missouri nonprofit corporation, for the purchase price of $1,400,000. 

The building is 49,810 square feet on 12.72 acres. No rezoning was required for the ownership transition. 

The owner-financed agreement allows the district to return the former school building to educational use while creating an additional revenue stream in the years ahead. The Hickman Mills C-1 Board of Education approved the sale, recognizing the value of preserving the property as an educational destination and maintaining a positive presence in the community. 

The ISGKC has ties to the Hickman Mills community and has been a supportive partner of HMC-1. Reusing the former Truman Elementary building will allow the property to continue serving students and families for educational programming while helping prevent the building from sitting vacant and becoming a source of blight. In addition, ISGKC plans to utilize the building to offer community services, such as open gym access and a food pantry. 

“This is a win for the Hickman Mills community and for our district,” said HMC-1 Superintendent of Schools Dennis L. Carpenter, Ed.D. “Rather than having an empty school building, we are welcoming a community partner that will continue using the property for education. This creates an opportunity to bring families into the community from throughout the Kansas City area, while keeping the site active, cared for, and connected to its educational purpose. We are thankful to our partners, Aaron Mesmer and Christel Highland of Block Real Estate Services, for helping us navigate the process.” 

The sale is part of the district’s broader efforts to responsibly manage its facilities and resources while creating greater financial stability. Revenue generated through the owner-financed agreement will provide an additional long-term financial benefit to the district and help strengthen the district’s fund balance. 

“The Board believes this agreement represents an important opportunity for HMC-1 and the community we serve,” said Board of Education President Bonnaye Mims. “Not only does this provide an opportunity to strengthen our fund balance that supports our Road to a Sustainable Destiny and our commitment to strengthening the district’s financial position, but we are also pleased to work with our partner, the Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City. We are proud to see this property continue serving students and our Hickman Mills community.”  

The district identified the former Truman Elementary School as part of its 2026-2027 school reconfiguration plan. Truman students and staff began the new school year together at their new location in the former Ervin Elementary/Alvin Brooks Middle School building. The sale of the former Truman property reflects HMC-1’s continued focus on making responsible decisions with district resources, supporting the community, and building a more sustainable financial future for students.