The sales of two Butler School District closed elementary schools was approved by Judge S. Michael Yeager in court Thursday afternoon.

Clearfield Elementary School was sold to CNC Malting Company, owned by Brendan Carroll, for $235,000. The school was appraised independently twice, at $225,000 and $247,000, giving the school an average appraised market value of $236,000.

Immediately following the Clearfield hearing was the sale of Meridian Elementary School. Yeager approved the sale to Sparks Holding, a holding company owned by Michael Wright, owner of 70E Solutions, a family owned electrical testing company.

Carroll’s company plans to use the Clearfield facility as a malting house to make malt from Pennsylvania-grown grains to sell to different breweries, bakeries and distilleries across the state. The business is expected to benefit local farmers by providing them opportunities to diversify their crops.

At the sales hearing Thursday afternoon, nobody came forward with other bids on the property or objections to Carroll’s bid.

The hearing also addressed the future of the Clearfield playground, which is land leased by the school to the township since the playground was put in through a grant given to the county. The playground equipment will be removed in five months, at which time the lease will end, King said.

Carroll, who was not in court Thursday, called in for the proceedings.

CNC Malt has two contracted farmers and is looking to expand that number to up to 12 eventually, Carroll said to the board at a previous meeting. Because so much of the business relies on the growing period, Carroll expects sales to begin in October, he said.

Previously, a citizens group led by Dan Mennor in Clearfield Township considered an effort to buy the school for use as a community center, but Mennor told the board back in March the group was not financially able to make an official offer.

Meridian’s two independent appraisals came in at $660,000 and $400,000, giving an average appraised market value of $530,000, Yeager said. Wright’s bid, as approved by Yeager, was for $425,000.

Resident Charles Tanner spoke up in opposition of the sale, hoping the playground would be divided from the school property that Wright was to purchase. Tanner said the playground would take up 3.28 acres of the 10 acres.

For Tanner, it was about making sure the playground would remain for the children in the neighborhood.

However, Wright’s attorney, Gary Simone said the offer was an “all-or-nothing proposition.” Despite Tanner’s concern, Robert Wells, a man who lives next to the Meridian school, said he had no problem with Wright maintaining the playground.

“We’d like to see it kept as a playground, but it’s his property if he buys it,” Wells said.

Ultimately, Wright said he will keep the playground, adding some security cameras to the area since there is an added liability to the company.

“We do need to do some work to (the playground), but we’re going to started immediately,” Wright said.

In addition, Wright said he was pleased with the response from neighbors of the school. He said his experience with the community and the school district’s maintenance department was nothing but positive.

“We’re anxious to get in (the building),” Wright said.

He is planning some major renovations, some of which will be delayed until at least next year, including roof work, he said.

Wright is hopeful the company will be able to move in by mid-to-late August, he said.

The final step is the closing of the sales, according to district solicitor Tom King. The closing for Meridian is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, but there is no date scheduled yet for the closing on Clearfield.