CMS' Capital Program Services Team provides day-to-day program management support for CMS' 2017 bond program. For additional information regarding the status of the 2017 Bond Projects, please visit Construction.

The Real Estate Team is charged with negotiating with public and private entities the acquisition and conveyance of rights-of-way and temporary and permanent easements (stormwater, sidewalk utility, access, construction and maintenance) on behalf of the Board of Education per applicable statutes and Board of Education policies. Easement acquisitions are in support of capital construction projects and other Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' facility needs.

The Real Estate Team is responsible for negotiating and managing lease agreements with public and private entities at the direction of the superintendent in support of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) facility needs. Applicable lease agreements include leases where CMS serves as either landlord or tenant. Tenant leases are signed to support CMS' needs for additional academic, administrative and support spaces. Landlord leases are signed primarily for former school facilities that have been deemed surplus by the Board of Education. 

Lease requests may be submitted via this application. For short-term use of CMS-owned facilities, interested parties should contact the CMS Community Use of Schools department.

• CMBE as Landlord - Lease Sample
• CMBE Permissive Use Agreement - Sample

The Real Estate Team is responsible for maintaining Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' (CMS) surplus properties list. In addition, the team provides informational updates to the superintendent regarding additional properties that may be considered potential candidates for surplus property declarations by the Board of Education.  Generally, surplus properties are ones in which the Board of Education has deemed:

• No longer suitable for use as an active CMS school
• Will not serve as an administrative facility
• Does not have use for an immediate active CMS facility need

Per applicable statutes, the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners is entitled to right-of-first refusal to sell surplus property. 

Other considerations for the sale of real estate are statutory requirements that The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education must receive fair-market value, as determined by an appraisal, for any property to be conveyed.  Most sales of surplus property are bound by an upset-bid process, as well.  Leases cannot be entered into with a duration (including renewals) of more than ten (10) years; all leases are also subject to termination rights.

When declaring a school or parcel as surplus, CMS requests Expressions of Interest from all interested parties. Individuals will not be considered for the purchase or lease of surplus real estate. A completed Expression of Interest must, at a minimum, include the following information:

• Entity/entities which will ultimately take title/possession (to include history/overview of organization)
• Stated proposed use(s)
• Financial terms to include "Best and Final" offer. If a lease is sought, please state the amount of proposed capital investment and duration of lease sought.
• Current financial statements to include Profit & Loss (or similar)
• Historical financial statements to include three years of tax returns and/or audited financial statements
• Active Articles of Incorporation/Filings to include a list of board members/executive leadership/corporate officials

Expressions of Interest are non-binding statements of intent and are not legally binding commitments or offers. Additional information that an entity wishes to furnish may be submitted for consideration. Nothing in any advertisement or process obligates the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (CMBE) to contract with any party on any property. No representations or warranties are made herein. All parties replying to this process are wholly responsible for ensuring that their intended use(s) are compatible with the property for which an Expression of Interest is being made. Misrepresentations or incomplete submissions will result in the rejection of the Expression of Interest. If CMBE decides to accept an offer, then CMS staff and legal counsel will work with the offeror to enter into a definitive lease or sales contract in compliance with applicable requirements before any decision by CMBE. If there are any questions related to this process, please send us an email.

CMS does accept unsolicited offers; these may be directed in an actionable form, such as Letter of Intent or Offer, to Surplus Real Estate. For more information, please visit Facility Master Plan or email CMS Review 2023.