As the Butler School Board reviews the district building consolidation effort, potential buyers of the four closed schools are in limbo since any sales have been put on hold.

The consolidation in May 2015 resulted in the closing of four elementary schools: Broad Street, Clearfield, Meridian and Oakland Township.

Although the district in November had approved the sale of Broad Street to the ARC of Butler County for $475,007, new board members who were seated in December reversed that agreement. At the same time, the board created the After-Action Review Committee to study the impact of the consolidation.

With that review reaching its later stages, the board soon may revisit the sale of the buildings.

The district has not received any new offers since December, according to Superintendent Dale Lumley.

Here is the status of each of the closed schools.

[naviga:h3]Broad Street[/naviga:h3]

While the school board reversed the initial sales agreement with the ARC of Butler County, Lumley believes the board will reconsider all previous bids on the property.

The ARC, which bid $475,007, has withdrawn that bid, according to executive director John Link. The ARC put in a fair offer and is now “disillusioned and disappointed,” Link said.

While the ARC is looking to expand, Link said the organization is “not in the business of a bidding war.”

J.M. Beatty Furniture bid $530,000 for the school and the company is still interested in buying the property.

The Center for Community Resources bid $150,000 and is still interested in the property. However, the center does not want that to overshadow those with a greater need for the space, said Executive Director Mike Robb.

The Broad Street school's average appraisal value is $456,500.

[naviga:h3]Meridian[/naviga:h3]

One company interested in buying Meridian Elementary is 70E Solutions, a family-owned electrical safety business based in Renfrew. The company started in 2005 and employs 10, according to owner Mike Wright Sr.

The company is still interested in buying the property, for which it bid $425,000. Wright is not discouraged by the district's decision to review the previous consolidation.

“I want (the school board) to make the right decision by the public,” he said. “We respect them for researching the (consolidation) decision.”

Because the building is nearly landlocked and in a residential location, the building cannot be torn down or expanded, Wright said, adding the company is limited with what it could do with the building.

But the company needs the space since business has grown roughly 150 percent in the past year, according to Wright.

“Our growth has been phenomenal, and we just need more space,” he said. “Our (current) building is what's holding us back. We need at least half of that school today.”

Wright is anxious to expand and is somewhat concerned about other bidders, he said. However, he wants the district to make the decision that is best for the public.

With the public in mind, Wright is looking into keeping the Meridian playground for public use, he said.

Ken McDonald and Brent Thomas also put in a bid for Meridian at $350,000, with a proposed senior residential facility in mind. Thomas said they are still interested in the building and do not mind the delay in the sale.

The Meridian school has an average appraisal value of $530,000.

[naviga:h3]Clearfield[/naviga:h3]

The Clearfield building does not have any official bids, but township residents are interested in acquiring it.

For resident Dan Mennor, the primarily farming township could benefit from a community center. It would be a positive influence for people of all ages, but especially children.

“We don't have anything out here to do,” he said, stressing that he does not want to see younger people become involved with drugs or other vices out of boredom. “You have to let these kids know that we really love them.”

Mennor said the school was the township's “focal point,” and he does not want the community to lose that.

However, Mennor said he does not expect the sale of the building to the community to be an easy transaction given the economy. People in the township do not have a lot of disposable income to donate for such a center, he said.

“I didn't want to go after funds from people if we didn't know what (the new school board) would do,” he said.

Because of the consolidation review process, Mennor did not want to have people donate funds that might not be needed, pending any unforeseen board action.

Mennor said he is looking into setting up a partnership with investors and researching how that might work if the school district does not donate the building.

As property taxes increase, donating the school for a community center may be controversial, Mennor said. Other communities may then expect the district to do the same.

A fundraiser in October raised more than $2,000 for the community center, and some of that money was used for a community survey in November. That survey showed mostly positive feedback on the community center idea, Mennor said.

“It's a very large venture to be honest with you,” he said. “Even if they would have given (the school) to us, it would have been difficult to maintain. But I feel it can be done ... I think we can do a really good job with this if it works out.”

Clearfield's average appraisal is $236,000.

Another meeting of those interested in a community center will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Clearfield Township Building, 103 McGrady Road, Fenelton.

[naviga:h3]Oakland Township[/naviga:h3]

Woodbine Oaks, a realty company owned by Monty Edgar, has bid $363,600 for the Oakland Township Elementary School building.

Edgar plans to use it for his electric business, Edgar Electric, and as a commercial rental office space.

Edgar declined to comment other than to say he is still interested in the property.

Oakland's average appraisal value is $362,500.