OAKLAND TWP — Having a tax-paying business buy Oakland Elementary School was the focus at Monday night’s community meeting about the sale.

The school is up for sale after the Butler School District consolidated last year, closing four elementary buildings, including Oakland.

While there were several people interested in the property, the district received just one bid, according to Superintendent Dale Lumley.

That is from Monty Edgar, owner of Edgar Electric and the Woodbine Oaks trailer park next to the school. In November, Edgar bid $363,600 for the building, which has an average appraisal value of $362,500.

Edgar spoke briefly Monday night, saying he wants to use the building for his electric company and to lease commercial office space.

Larry Thompson, chairman of the township planning commission, said the township hopes to have a taxable entity buy the school.

“I think it’s very important that we have a for-profit buyer,” he said.

Because Edgar’s company is for-profit, it would pay property taxes if he buys the property.

Thompson said he supports Edgar’s purchase.

Carole Saeler of Oakland Township questioned whether Edgar would use the land behind the school to expand his trailer park, but Edgar said he has no plans to do so.

Saeler also asked if Edgar would be willing to let groups use the gymnasium and facilities at the school. He said he is open to considering that.

School board member Suzie Bradrick asked if there was any interest expressed in renting the office space should Edgar buy the building.

Edgar said, “I’ve had a number of (interested) prospects,” but he declined to identify specific businesses or individuals.

Saeler also asked the board what the district would do with the sale proceeds.

Because the district still owes money on renovations done at Oakland, sales revenue is required to go pay that off, Lumley said. While he could not give a specific figure, he said the amount is “considerable.”

Lumley said he believes every building in the district except Meridian Elementary carries debt from renovations.

District solicitor Tom Breth also discussed the sale process. After the board accepts an offer there will be a hearing in Butler County Court.

During the hearing, the district and buyer will go before a judge who must make the final decision. At that time, another entity could make a bid.

“Just because the board selects an acceptable offer and includes that offer in the petition doesn’t necessarily mean that that person will be the successful buyer,” Breth said. “Ultimately, the court will decide which offer is the best offer and select that.”

The board does not anticipate making a decision regarding the sale of any schools until after the final reports from the After-Action Review Committee, which is analyzing the impact of consolidation.

The district will have a community meeting on the sale of the closed Clearfield school at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the school, 719 Clearfield Road.

Hearings on the sale of Meridian and Broad Street schools have already been held.