HARRISVILLE — Har-Mer Elementary School has been sold to Slippery Rock University.

The Slippery Rock School Board voted Monday night to sell the closed school for $300,000 so SRU can develop it into the main site for its planned master of science in physician assistant studies degree.

“Since the building no longer is being used ... it's appropriate to convert it rather than have it go derelict,” said school board President Polly Shaw.

Har-Mer, which was one of the three elementary schools in the district, was closed in June 2013 because of declining enrollment in the district.

At the time of its closing, it had 99 students. At the same time, Slippery Rock Elementary School had 449 students and Moraine Elementary School had 402 students.

Shaw said the new SRU facility should be a benefit to the borough, bringing jobs and helping businesses. She said the school's bell, which has been with the building for many decades, will remain at Har-Mer.

Karl Schwab, an SRU spokesman, said, once the sale is completed, architectural and engineering work will begin in haste.

“We want to start that,” Schwab said.

He said getting a new building is necessary for SRU because the campus does not have enough classroom and laboratory space for the new program.

In December, the SRU trustees forwarded the plans for the new degree to the State System of Higher Education board of governors for approval. The governors meet next week.

Plans for the program include a pre-track program for SRU students majoring in biology, psychology or exercise science, allowing students to take three years of undergraduate work, then enter the program for the additional two years of training.

A pre-track program for SRU students majoring in chemistry, therapeutic recreation, athletic training and public health also will be offered. The program would allow students to earn both bachelor's and master's degrees.

Those graduating from SRU and other universities with degrees in all of the areas of study also are expected to apply for the program.

If everything falls into place, Schwab said the program could begin in the summer of 2016.

The single-story, 33,060-square-foot building is on 4.8 acres about 7 miles from SRU's main campus.