LINESVILLE — Nearly 10 months after it was listed, Conneaut Valley Middle School has attracted interest from a potential buyer.
“Since we dropped the price, I’ve had an increase in inquiries,” real estate broker Jim Schons of REAL of Pennsylvania told board members at their meeting last week. “The good news is, I’m going to have an offer.”
Conneaut School District closed the middle school located just outside Conneautville borough early last June and less than a week later approved a proposal to list it for sale with an asking price of more than $4.1 million. In January, the board voted to lower the price to $3.4 million.
“Looking at the price point, we’re right in there,” Schons told the board, comparing the middle school’s price to other similar properties sold and for sale in a five-state region. “We’re not high, we’re not low, we’re just a little under the middle.”
Board President Dot Luckock said popular interest drove the request for an update from Schons.
“Many of us, of course, are getting asked by our public what the status is, if things are looking promising, not promising,” Luckock said.
The listing describes the 27.4 acre property at 22154 Route 18, Conneautville, as an “unbelievable investnmnt opprtunity” (sic). The three-level school, originally constructed in 1954, is just over 102,000 square feet and includes 159 parking spaces, two gymnasiums, multiple athletic fields, Wi-Fi throughout the building and plenty of history among other amenities.
“Old schools can be converted into apartments or shared living spaces,” the listing states. “The large rooms and open areas of schools are well-suited for this purpose.”
Board members in September 2023 voted to close the middle school as a cost-cutting move in the face of declining enrollments.
At the time, district officials estimated the closure would reduce annual expenses by about $116,000. Selling the building, they said, would bring annual savings up to about $466,000.
Schons, in painting a positive picture of the potential sale, said he had talked to the potential buyer hours before the board’s Wednesday meeting.
“He sent me late in the afternoon plans of what he intends to do,” Schons said. “I think it’s a win-win for everybody.”
Luckock cautioned Schons not to discuss in public specific details of the proposal. Such information would be covered in an executive session, a meeting held behind closed doors to discuss certain topics that qualify for exemptions under the Sunshine Act, Pennsylvania’s law requiring open public meetings.
Luckock said the executive session would include a “possible price discussion.” She also said that the outcome of the private discussions would eventually be revealed to the public.
“If there is a solid offer that the board is going to consider pursuing,” she said, “that final information does come into the public meeting for public approval.”
The Sunshine Act allows executive sessions for the purpose of “considering the purchase or lease of real property.” In an interview Friday, attorney George Joseph, a partner of Quinn Law Firm, the law firm that represents Conneaut, said that “purchase” in this context refers to the purchase of real estate by the district as well as from the district.
In at least one instance, public officials have been convicted of Sunshine Act violations for discussing the sale — rather than the purchase — of publicly owned real estate.
In at least one instance, however, public officials have been convicted of Sunshine Act violations for discussing the sale — rather than the purchase — of publicly owned real estate.
Discussing sale strategies and possible prices in private protects the interest of taxpayers, according to Joseph.
“Ultimately,” he said, “I think my interpretation will serve the public interest.”