After many months of waiting, the Montgomery Area School Board has received approval from county Judge Richard A. Gray to sell the Elimsport Elementary School building to Moses and Rachel Zook, of Elimsport, for $230,000.
Zook told the judge that he and his wife have a store about a quarter of a mile away from the former school, and the purchase will allow his business to expand.
"We just have a little place, and we're running out of room over there," Zook said.
George E. Girio, a general appraiser, testified that he had examined the building and made an estimate of its value.
"I believe that the property sold for more than a fair and reasonable market value; more than would have been obtained in a public sale," Girio said. He added that $230,000 was a fair price.
The agreement to sell the building was approved by the school board in February. However, due to legal requirements that the board had to meet before selling the property, the sale took time.
"Because the building sold through private sale, we were required to have the sale approved by the court, after we notified the public," explained Thomas C. Marshall, school board solicitor.
Benjamin Enders, district business manager, said the board had met all the requirements for sale, both state requirements and regulations pursuant to the school code.
Gray, before making his final ruling, noted that no others had come forward to oppose the sale, and no counter offers had been received. Because the sale had backing of the board, and the purchase price was higher than might have otherwise been received in a public sale, he explained, he would allow the purchase.
"Congratulations. I wish you the best of luck with your new building," Gray told Zook after the hearing.
