A decision on The Rush Building is expected soon after the start of the new calendar year.

Rush Township solicitor Chris Riedlinger informed the board of supervisors on Thursday that the township's zoning hearing board will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 5, and a written decision will be made.The Rush Building is currently a K-12 setting that offers alternative education, regular education, special education and school to work programs.The zoning board heard testimony at a hearing last month from both the township and the Tamaqua Area School District.The hearing was necessitated by the district's appeal of a notice of violation concerning the change in use of a former elementary school in the township.It came after an injunction request filed in September by the township to prevent the district from changing the use of the former Rush Township Elementary School in Hometown to an academy was rejected.The injunction request supervisors filed with Schuylkill County Court to prevent the district from changing the use of the former school to an academy was declined.In July, the zoners met to consider the district's appeal of a notice of violation issued by township zoning officer Bill McMullen.The township contended that the district's proposed use of the school did not comply with zoning regulations.Following testimony, the board unanimously voted to withdraw the violation.The district then asked the Pennsylvania Department of Education to allow it to change the school to an academy.