Missouri Revised Statutes Title XI. Education and Libraries § 177.111. Athletic stadiums--powers of board

1. Any seven-director school district, acting through its board of directors, may acquire, construct, erect, equip and furnish, operate, control and regulate a stadium or similar structure for the holding of school athletic games, contests and other recreational activities and exhibitions, and for purposes and uses incidental thereto. Portions of the structure may be constructed and equipped for gymnasium or training rooms and dressing rooms. From time to time the district may make additions to or enlarge the structure.

2. The school district may use real property now or hereafter belonging to it as a site for the stadium, or may acquire by purchase, lease, gift or otherwise the real and personal property that in the judgment of the board of directors is necessary, advisable and suitable for the purpose, together with adequate space for off-street parking of vehicles. It may accept contributions and gifts of money or property for the acquisition, construction, operation and maintenance of the stadium and sites and appurtenances thereto.

3. If the district uses for such purpose property acquired by funds derived from proceeds of taxation, it shall make payment from the proceeds of the bonds issued pursuant to sections 164.231 to 164.301, or from funds available therefor from sources other than taxation, into its treasury to the credit of the appropriate fund a sum equal to the cost to the school district of the property or its then appraised value, whichever is greater. The appraised value shall be determined by a proceeding in the circuit court of the county where the land is situated in the nature of a condemnation proceeding, so that the school district will in effect have condemned the land for the benefit of the project and it will have ceased to represent investment of proceeds of taxation. The circuit court is vested with jurisdiction of the proceeding in which the school district shall be plaintiff and the attorney general shall be made a party defendant as representing the public interest in the property and funds of the school district derived from taxation.