Residents question fate of Sugarcreek Elementary
The initial closing date of Sugarcreek Elementary School came and went in June, but students are still walking its halls and learning in its classrooms.
On Monday, Feb. 12, the district’s school board held another meeting regarding the school’s closure, which is a state-mandated part of the process of closing any public school in Pennsylvania.
Eric Ritzert, superintendent of Karns City Area School District, said the board had its first meeting regarding Sugarcreek Elementary’s closure in September 2020, with an official vote to close the school in June 2021. Construction to expand Chicora Elementary School was slowed because of a delay in obtaining permits, and the time to officially close Sugarcreek Elementary expired. Because of this, Karns City Area School District’s school board has to go through that process once again.
“We had to rescind that closure and go back through it,” Ritzert said. “The board will be asked probably in May or June to vote on the closure. That will be effective at the end of June 2024.”
The closure of the school and consolidation of all students in kindergarten through fifth grade will also bring with it a new name for Chicora Elementary, which is currently undergoing construction to be able to hold the additional students. According to Ritzert, the school will be renamed to Karns City Area Elementary School.
Ritzert also said the school board has not decided what to do with the Sugarcreek Elementary building once it finally closes this year.
Ritzert said previously Sugarcreek Elementary is the district’s oldest building. It was erected in the 1950s and an addition was built in the early-1970s, he said, but that was the last of the significant updates. Despite its age, Ritzert said he hopes the school district can find a buyer for the building.
“You have schools that have very good bones,” he said. “Hopefully, we can find a purchaser or entity who can take or use that facility."
