Bruin Elementary School was closed in 2012, and the Karns City School District has been looking to sell the building ever since. The district is closing in on a deal with the Housing Authority of the County of Butler.

BRUIN — It appears the Karns City School District may shift gears and sell the closed Bruin Elementary School to the Housing Authority of the County of Butler.

The authority wants to convert the building into an 18-unit complex for senior living and community learning center.

Executive Director Perry O'Malley said he spoke with Superintendent Eric Ritzert last week and Ritzert indicated the district likely would be favorable to an agreement.

“The superintendent got back to me and said the board would go ahead with the deal,” O'Malley said.

Ritzert said no deal is final, but confirmed he did speak with O'Malley about a possible agreement.

“We are engaged in dialogue and hope to establish an agreement,” Ritzert said. “It's my personal belief that the authority's plan for the building would be a good fit for our community.”

The two sides have been negotiating terms for the authority to convert the vacant building into senior housing and a community center on and off for more than a year.

The authority made an offer in February to buy the building for $100,000. The proposal also would give the school district a two-year option to continue marketing the building for a more lucrative offer.

The school district responded with an offer it would accept if the authority paid the estimated $38,000 annual utility costs on the building during the option period.

The authority rejected that proposal earlier this month and resent its original proposal to the board.

O'Malley said at the time it was not in the best interest of the authority to take on paying for the vacant building.

Ritzert said he understood the authority's stance.

“We respect that position,” he said. “We only wanted the payment to demonstrate they were serious with the proposal.”

While the deal is not yet complete, Ritzert said he believes it can be done soon.

“I am confident I can recommend an agreement if (the proposal) has an established timeline of when the authority will take over the building,” he said.

O'Malley said the authority, which will need to get grant money to pay for the building, has already started adding the project to its future plans.

The authority first attempted to buy the property in January 2013, but the school board rejected the offer, opting to seek other buyers.

Talks began again in February when the school board offered to reopen negotiations.

The school closed in 2012. It was appraised for about $260,000 that year.

O'Malley has said in the past the rural area limits the possibilities of what can be done with the school.

The next meetings for both the school board and housing authority are in August. Ritzert said it is unlikely a decision will be made before that time.