BUTLER TWP — Butler School Board members voted 7-2 Thursday evening to accept sealed bids of four recently closed elementary school buildings through Sept. 18.

Depending on the bids the district receives, the board could approve sales of the Broad Street, Clearfield, Meridian and Oakland elementary schools as soon as Sept. 21. The appraised values of buildings that were determined over the summer will not be released until after that meeting.

“We’re going to have to determine whether the bids meet the appraised values or not. The concern of releasing the appraisals may diminish the price,” said Tom King, district solicitor.

He continued: “ ... We’re hoping to get the highest and best price, so we don’t particularly want to say, that’s the price we’d want for the building. We’d be happy if you bid twice whatever the appraisal is, or three times or 10 times.”

The district closed five elementary schools in June because of declining enrollment and increased costs. Four of the schools are now vacant, while Center Avenue is being repurposed as a district-operated alternative school.

Two appraisers were hired in June by the district. David King of Nicklas King McConahy did the appraisal work for $8,400, and Kyle McCown of Dan McDown and Co. was paid $9,500.

King said there are three options for selling the buildings: Accepting sealed bids, selling through a Realtor or the district selling them. If the sealed bids are unsuccessful for any or all of the buildings, the board can determine a different sale process.

Bill Halle and John Conrad both voted against the sealed bid process. Halle expressed several caveats.

“This is my concern: With all four buildings, we’ve taken no community input …. We haven’t looked at any options of what might be a great idea for those communities for their own use of those buildings,” he said.

Dale Lumley, superintendent, said there’s still time for community input, but later in the process.

“All of the sealed bids can be rejected. So I think it’s a matter of those discussions happening after you get the sealed bids. Do you want to honor the sealed bids or do you want to throw them all out?” Lumley asked.

“If you get a buyer who submits a sealed bid, who’s perfect for the community, or so we think, we can certainly seek community input at that time before you award the bid.”

The Pennsylvania School Code places some limits on what the buildings can be sold for. It dictates that buildings cannot be sold for adult entertainment, pornography or other uses considered a public nuisance.

Al Vavro, who joined the meeting via conference call, said he has concerns about the buildings being vandalized if they are vacant for too long. That’s a situation that happened years ago when the district was trying to sell West End Elementary School.

“They had to board up all the windows because of the vandalism at that school. So the longer they sit, the more potential for vandalism of those buildings,” he said.

Jennifer Cummings, who is running for the school board in the Nov. 3 election, said to the board, “I just want to call your attention for a second to the pamphlet you may recognize that you handed out when the parents came to all of the meetings throughout the consolidation.

“One of the statements that was made in here was, ‘The vacant buildings will be appraised and marketed for buyers. The district will seek community input on closing activities for potential buyers.’

“I just want you to make sure as you consider this motion, you remember that you promised to everyone who came to those meetings that you would seek their input. You might have a plan for that, but I wouldn’t know.”

Sales of school buildings have had varying results in the Butler County area.

The Freeport School District last month sold its junior high building and kindergarten center after both buildings closed in June.

The Slippery Rock School District in February sold Har-Mer Elementary School to Slippery Rock University. That building closed in 2014.

Meanwhile, the former Bruin Elementary School in the Karns City School District, which closed in 2012, remains for sale.