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Vacant Lamar Elementary sold

Another former Keystone Central School District elementary school building is on the cusp of being sold

The vacant Lamar Township elementary building has been sold to Kathryn and David Allgyer for $165,000, pending zoning contingencies that need to be worked out.

The sale is being handled by real estate broker Beth Riccardo.

It’s unclear what plans the Allgyers have for the school. Riccardo declined to say what information she has from the buyers.

The school building is 16,000 square feet.

The land is zoned residential, however, that’s not unusual for schools, Riccardo said, suggesting the track record in such situations is good for any possible zoning changes depending on use.

Lamar Elementary has been closed since 2014, although it was a shell for several years prior, with its students having been moved to nearby Mill Hall Elementary since 2012.

In its last year of operation, Lamar Elementary had just under 100 students.

Mill Hall Elementary sits just 2.9 miles from the Lamar school – which is actually in Salona – and that was a factor in the decision to close the school.

According to the property sale information, the land and building were originally listed for $235,000.

The property along Long Run Road in Lamar Township includes over 6 acres, in addition to the school and outbuildings.

The sale was moved along with most of the rest of the agenda following little public discussion at Thursday night’s school board meeting in Renovo, as four board members attended by conference call due to a combination of a business trip for Deb Smith and a Pennsylvania School Boards Association meeting for Billie Rupert, Bo Miller, and Tracy Smith.

District Superintendent Dr. Alan J. Lonoconus was absent due to a family issue.

The school board held a 30-minute executive session before the voting meeting, which the remote members were unable to take part in.

A line item about changes to the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School’s charter was pushed back another month following a comment by board member Eric Probert that he had not received an email from Dr. Lonoconus about the changes, and thus would not feel able to make an informed decision.

That is the second tabling for the issue, which originally surfaced on September’s agenda.

However, the district has not released any information about what changes to the charter it is considering.

There was a very brief discussion about some of the policies that were being moved, as board member Jennifer Bottorf protested that she had not seen the first read of some of the now second-read policies, and didn’t feel comfortable voting for them as a result.

Board president Charles Rosamilia clarified that the board’s policy about policies is that “they are subject to change, and have no length of adoption.”

Roger Elling, one of the board members in attendance, also explained the process:, “Policies come in, already approved through PSBA, after which the administration would verify those that are applicable for our district, and then push them on to us for approval.”

During the voting meeting, the entire agenda was moved unanimously except for the tabling of the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School changes and an athletics-related item, as Bottorf, Elling and Miller all needed to abstain due to their presence on the volunteer list, or the presence of a close relative.

This item passed unanimously except for the three abstentions.

A number of policies were also approved, including a second read of the “Title I Parent and Family Engagement,” a first read of “Adoption of Textbooks,” and a first read of “Reductions in Staff.”

These policies were reportedly available in a green policy exhibit, but The Express was not provided any documentation about the policies in question, nor was any information provided digitally on the district’s web site.

In other business, the board:

– Approved a change to the ABA Support Services contract from $125 to $105 hourly, but increased the number of days from 6 to 8. ABA Support Services provides the district with a behavior analyst, whose responsibilities include observations, data collection, staff training, meetings with school personnel and parents, preparation of reports, interviews for behavior assessments, review of records, and creation and implementation of interventions.

– Approved the Athletic Booster Clubs and Parent Teacher Organizations for the 2018-2019 school year.

– Approve renewal of errors and omissions umbrella coverage with Liberty Mutual Co. through Gearhart, Herr and Co.

– Approve a Student Assistant Program Services agreement with the Lycoming-Clinton Joinder Board through June 30, 2019.

– Approved human resources recommendations as presented in exhibit personnel.

– Approved field trips and, separately, a parent transportation contract with Christine Peters at $15.26 daily for the 2018-2019 school year.

– Denied a grievance dated Aug. 31 from the Association of Clinton County Educators, the teachers’ union, while also approving a memorandum of understanding with the ACCE. No information was provided on either issue.

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