More than a few residents of Weatherly borough have looked up at the former C.M. Schwab School building over the years and wished they could do something to save it.

Now the borough’s mayor/council president wants to give them that opportunity.Tom Connors is planning to ask borough council to consider taking possession of the property, which has been on the market for several months — but without using taxpayer money.He wants residents to voice their opinion on the issue at borough council’s next meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, May 16. It will also be on the agenda at their workshop tonight, May 11.“We’re going to discuss it. It should come to a vote at Monday’s meeting. It comes down to, if we can get a group of people to raise money to buy the school back, will council accept it?” he said.The bank who owns the property has had it on the market for several months. They acquired it through foreclosure after the previous owner, who envisioned the 115-year-old school as a retirement home, fell into default.Connors is clear that the borough doesn’t have the money to acquire the building itself. But he wants to give residents the opportunity to buy it for them.“I hope the councilmen do the right thing and at least give the people the opportunity to raise the money to purchase it,” he said. “There may be folks who say ‘I don’t want the burden,’ but we need to hear from those folks too.Connors envisions that the building could be re-purposed for the benefit of the community. The borough’s police department and administrative offices currently share a cramped space in the town’s old train station.Private citizens have already started an online fundraiser on gofundme.com to raise money to potentially purchase the school.The organizer, Patrick McFadden, said he attended high school at the Schwab School before it closed in the mid-90s, and is asking all those who attended to put up some kind of monetary donation to save it.“When I see the building in pictures, the memories flood back of all the students, teachers, administrators, and friends I had there,” McFadden wrote on the website.The goal is to raise $100,000. Whether that will cover the cost of acquisition is unknown.Connors recalled how borough officials had a chance to acquire the building at no cost when Weatherly Area School District opened a new high school in 1991. Connors recalled that council declined an offer to take ownership of the building.After the borough declined the offer, an out-of-state buyer paid $400,000 for the building, but let it fall into disrepair.“Back in the 90s, the board had the opportunity to get the school from the school board for $1. They did not, and it ended up with 10 years of court battles,” he said.To learn more about the fundraiser, visit

https://www.gofundme.com/23a5d8s.