CLEARFIELD TWP — For the dream of a community center in the township to become a reality, the group promoting the idea desperately needs financial backers.

Dan Mennor, the organizer of the Clearfield Community Center group, asked the Butler School Board on Monday night that the district move to sell Clearfield Elementary School.

Mennor explained that, for now, the group’s plan to buy the center is on hold, but that does not mean it will stop fundraising or exploring future options, he said.

Clearfield Elementary was closed during last year’s district consolidation, but the building, with an average appraisal of $236,000, has no formal offers, according to Superintendent Dale Lumley.

The Clearfield school is “a hard sell,” according to board member Bill Halle, who said the building needs significant maintenance and it is in a less desirable location.

In addition, the township cannot afford to buy the building, let alone keep up with maintenance costs, according to township Supervisor Aaron Raible.

Halle recommended that Mennor try to put a proposal together regardless.

“I suggest that you continue working on that,” he said.

Halle suggested a public-private partnership, with a company willing to help buy the school.

However, Jennifer Cummings, vice president of the board, said she would consider selling the school to the community center group for a lower price.

“Nobody wants an empty building,” she said.