Butler Middle School closed at the end of the 2022 school year. Possible plans for reuse of the vacant school on North McKean Street are still being discussed Butler Eagle file photo

Possible plans for reuse of the vacant Butler Middle School on North McKean Street are still being discussed as one of two large tenants, Independence Health System, has decided not to proceed with the development process, superintendent Brian White shared in his January message to the Butler Area School District.

White’s message didn’t name the health system, but in April, Donald Evans, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation said discussions with Independence Health System about using Butler Middle School for its family medicine residency program were underway.

White noted that the remaining tenant, the Watson Institute, which provides individualized special education school programming, could “provide a direct benefit to some of our students as well as the school district financially.”

“It is a long ride from Butler to Sewickley, which is where some students currently attend the Watson Institute,” White said in his message. “Shortening this ride would be a benefit to our students.

“Currently, Butler Area School District uses three buses to transport students to the Watson Institute in Sewickley, Pa. In addition to the driver, each vehicle typically has a bus aide and a nurse. This is a significant cost incurred daily by the school district. Thus, dramatically reducing this transportation need will provide financial savings. It is important to note that the district would use a phaseout model and try to respect the wishes of students from Butler who already attend Watson in Sewickley and may want to complete their school experience with the school and friends they have made.”

Any future options for renovation or reuse of the old school, which was closed at the end of the 2022 school year, are being weighed against the possibility of “demolishing the existing building and building a new structure,” White said.

According to White, the Community Development Corporation of Butler County will offer a recommendation for the building once an analysis is complete. The timeline of the corporation’s recommendation is unknown, White told the Eagle on Friday, Jan. 5.

“The challenging reality is the building is more than 100 years old, and it will take a substantial amount of capital to reuse it,” White said in his January statement.

The message noted that the renovations would cost between $20 million and $30 million.

In the past year, the school district has been working with Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation, as well as Butler County, the City of Butler and the Community Development Corporation on developing a reuse model for the building, White said.

The school district's goals have to ensure the “building does not become a dilapidated structure and public nuisance” and to “develop a use that benefits the community and taxpayers,” White said.

“While I know many folks have very fond memories of the old junior high/middle school building, we must be prudent in our use of resources and ensure that we are not saving a building at the expense of resources students and community members need,” White said.

This story was updated at 8:45 p.m., Jan. 8 to reflect that Pittsburgh Gateways has not purchased the former Butler Middle School. A previous version of this story said the corporation bought the building for $1.