Unused School Buildings – The House Education Committee approved HB 520 that requires a school district to demolish a school building within 10 years of it becoming unused, unless it can be sold for at least 50% of its fair market value or donated to a nonprofit or political subdivision. A district will not have to demolish the building if: (1) the school board determines that the building is necessary for future use; (2) the building satisfies state and local building or health and safety ordinances; (3) the building is located on property with at least one other school building used for the instruction of students; or (4) the building was built before 1940 and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission determines it to be of historic value.
House Bill 520 also permits the Pennsylvania Department of Education to reimburse school districts for school construction projects without requiring them to remove mobile classrooms from school property.
PSBA opposes HB 520.