MANDATA - Line Mountain School District is keeping the appraisals of Leck Kill and Dalmatia elementary schools close to the vest while the school board members determine what they want to do with those properties.
A Right To Know Request was filed by The News-Item Nov. 15 to obtain copies of documents that would reveal the appraisal information from Real Estate Appraisal and Marketing Associates, Sunbury, who was hired in August.
That request was denied Friday by Superintendent Dave Campbell, the district's Right To Know Officer, on the basis of the exceptions of Section 708(b)(22) of the state Right To Know Law.
That sections excepts "the contents of real estate appraisals, engineering or feasibility estimates, environmental reviews, audits or evaluations made for or by an agency relative to the following: the leasing, acquiring or disposing of real property or an interest in real property; the purchase of public supplies or equipment included in the real estate transaction; and construction projects."
However, according to the law, these items shall not be exempt "once the decision is made to proceed with the lease, acquisition or disposal of real property or an interest in real property or the purchase of public supply or construction project."
The two schools were closed before the 2013-14 school year as part of an overall district consolidation plan. School buildings in Trevorton and Mandata were expanded to accommodate a realignment of the school district. Students in grades kindergarten through fourth are attending class in Trevorton, while fifth and sixth graders are attending class in the new addition of the high school building.
The current Leck Kill building, a 13,350-square-foot structure at 3664 Old State Road, was constructed in 1927. The current Dalmatia building, a 36,000-square-foot structure at 162 School Road not far from Route 147, was built in 1934.
Both buildings have gone through many name changes and renovations over the years.
School board members have not yet decided whether they want to keep the buildings, donate them back to their respective municipalities, hold a public auction or hire a realtor to conduct a private sale.
They will likely discuss their options at one of the next public meetings Dec. 10 or Dec. 24.