KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY
Thaddeus Stevens Primary School, above, which currently houses around 250 students and 34 professional and support staff, will close effective June 30.
No longer opening its doors to students, Thaddeus Stevens Elementary School will now most likely go into the hands of a real estate agent to begin the process of selling the building, following a discussion this week by the Williamsport Area School Board on the pros and cons of taking this route to dispose of the building.
“We are entering a point where we
understand the value of the building,” said Dr. Timothy S. Bowers, superintendent.
“It is obviously, officially and currently closed. All the paperwork has been submitted to PDE (Pennsylvania Department of Education),” he added.
The board’s discussion centered around what would be the best way to sell the property — through a real estate agent, through the district privately, by sealed bid or by auction.
There were also questions about how much control the district would have in determining future uses for the building. Board solicitor Fred Holland told the board that they could put restrictions in the contract which would give them some control uses by the new owners.
“For us, the attractive part of having a Realtor is they would market it. They know real estate. They know who’s in the community looking,” Bowers said.
Admitting that there would be a cost associated with using a real estate agent, Bowers said, “For us it kind of takes it off our plate and puts it into the professionals’ hands,” he said.
The board asked if there could be choices of agents to pick from before making the final decision on which agent to go with. The sale of the building would ultimately have to be approved by board and by the court because it is a private sale.
In other business, the board accepted the resignations of Scott J. Williams, full-time fourth grade teacher at Curtin Intermediate School; Sean P. Walker, full-time paraprofessional intervention specialist at the High School, for retirement; Diane M. Roles, long-term substitute at Lycoming Valley; and Suzie L. Marshall, full-time head custodian at the Middle School for retirement.
The following people were hired by the district at the hourly rate and/or annualized salary per the expired contract wage and salary scales until a successor contract is reached: Charlie A. Pfirman, part-time food service worker at the middle school; Elizabeth L. Schwenk, part-time food service worker at Curtin Intermediate; and Kellie M. Mantle, part-time aide at Lycoming Valley Intermediate School.
Other positions filled and rates of pay are: Elle Farrell and Hannah Werner, long-term substitute teachers, each at $53,633; Matthew D. Buraczeski, substitute administrative support aide and event staff, $12 per hour for each position; Louis A. Cupiccia, certified substitute teacher, $150 per day; Matthew D. Buraczeski and Tyler McCann, non-certified substitute teachers, $100 per day; and Josh Aarons, seventh grade assistant boys basketball coach, $2,240; Christina M. DeAlessio, health room technician, $20 per hour for an LPN and $32 for an RN.
The board approved the following hires for STA Inc. which provides transportation services for the district: Michael Schaeffer, CDL driver; Christina A. Hamilton and StephanieM Rumsey, van drivers/aides.
The next board meeting will be at 6 p.m., Dec. 6 at the District Center, 2780 West Fourth St.
