Mo. Rev. Stat. § 177.041

If any school district seeks to acquire real property for any purpose for which the district is authorized by law to acquire the property and cannot agree with the owner on the purchase price, or for any other cause cannot secure a title to the property, the school board of the district may condemn the property in the manner provided in sections 523.010 to 523.100, and upon condemnation and payment of the appraisement as provided, the fee simple title of the real property shall vest in the school district or, in metropolitan school districts, in the board of education.