Could Penns Valley sell Miles Township Elementary? District to receive proposals
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- Penns Valley seeks proposals for selling or repurposing Miles Township Elementary.
- Anyone is eligible to submit a proposal before the Oct. 15 deadline.
- Options include municipal transfer, private sale and redevelopment.
After closing its oldest elementary school, the Penns Valley Area School District is weighing the building’s future.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the district’s school board approved a measure allowing Penns Valley to advertise a request for proposals for the potential sale of Miles Township Elementary and its surrounding property. The procedural step aims to gather information and consider possible options without requiring the district to commit to keeping, selling or transferring ownership of the 6.58-acre Rebersburg property.
Under Pennsylvania’s school code, districts can use public auctions, sealed bids and private sales to dispose of school property. Another option allows districts to sell it to the presiding municipality for an appropriate consideration — often a symbolic dollar — as long as the buildings and land are used for public purposes through the township or municipality, district solicitor Scott Etter said.
Board member Domer Smeltzer said Miles Township officials made their interest in the property clear while the school board met with local groups to hear feedback over the summer about the potential school closure.
“When we met with Miles Township during [the board’s outreach process], all the supervisors made it very clear to us they were very interested in the property,” Domer said at the board’s Sept. 3 work session.
If Penns Valley chose to convey the property to Miles Township, ownership would revert back to the district if it is no longer desired or used for a public purpose. In some circumstances, the district would have legal standing to ask for the property back.
Notably, the property would not generate taxes if owned by the township.
Kimberly Domin, the lone board member who voted against closing the school in August, encouraged the district to explore transforming Miles Township Elementary into an agricultural academy or education center for Penns Valley students. She cited a growing interest in agricultural studies among district students and said Penns Valley is already working to hire another agricultural teacher to meet those needs.
“A dedicated facility would allow us to expand program offerings, create more hands-on learning opportunities and provide the space that agricultural educators consistently seek,” Domin said.
Domin said she heard from parents who suggested they were more interested in using charter schools, cyber programs or homeschooling because Penns Valley’s district “lacks the type of practical, real-world learning experiences that they want for their children.” Investing in innovative agricultural programs could help the district attract and retain students while combating declining enrollment, she said.
“Rushing to sell this property without exploring all potential educational uses could lead to regrets years down the road if we later realize the value we lost,” Domin said. “I don’t want to sell off potential; I want to invest in it for the future of Penns Valley students.”
Any proposed educational use for the building or its property must receive board approval.
Penns Valley’s district last entered such a process before the former Gregg Township Elementary School converted in 2007 to the Old Gregg School Community & Recreation Center. The multipurpose space now offers athletic facilities, offices and outdoor play areas, in addition to a community library.
Is there a timeline in place?
Brian Griffith, the district’s superintendent, said Penns Valley officials hoped to receive proposals for Miles Township Elementary’s future within a month.
From that point, the process is left to the school board. Members could, in theory, approve sales or plans for the building and property as soon as this fall. However, some expressed they would be hesitant to approve measures on a quick timeline because four new board members are expected to be seated in November.
Those interested in submitting a proposal to potentially acquire the property must write a letter to Robert Miller, the district’s director of physical plant, stating their interest, their plans for the property’s use and other relevant information, including financial terms and rationale. Any individual or group is eligible to submit a proposal.
Proposals are due by 3 p.m. Oct. 15, the same day as the board’s next regular meeting. The board is expected to review proposals over the following month and take action on them as early as November’s meeting.
What’s up for grabs?
For now, it’s unclear if any potential sale of the 6.58-acre property would include both the school building and its land, just the building or just undeveloped land. The school itself occupies roughly 2.02 acres, while the property’s undeveloped land totals about 4.53 acres.
A small plot of land housing the Gramley Schoolhouse Museum, just yards away from the school building, is not included in the available land, according to the district.
Penns Valley’s district says Miles Township Elementary’s 17,810-square-foot school building is in “good overall condition” at 80 Town Lane in Rebersburg. It can trace its history back to 1927, but it received significant renovations and additions in 1961.
As it stands today, the school building offers nine standard classrooms, eight office spaces, one set of public restrooms and 10 individual restrooms, in addition to a large kitchen area and gymnasium. The building offers air conditioning and oil-fueled heating and had its roof repaired as recently as 2022.
All equipment in the school is expected to be removed by district officials if the property is sold, though some affixed items — including networking equipment, camera systems and kitchen appliances — may be removed at the district’s discretion. Plumbing fixtures, electrical services, heating systems, doors and other hardware will remain intact.
District officials said they would examine the conditions of the school’s playground equipment and transfer suitable pieces to Penns Valley’s other elementary schools if possible.
Griffith, the superintendent, also expressed interest in ensuring the one-room schoolhouse museum is properly protected if the district chooses to sell Miles Township Elementary or its land. He said that, up to this point, the museum has continued operating on the school property’s borders under a more informal agreement with Penns Valley’s district.
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