The Pleasant Valley School Board might be selling Polk Elementary School. The directors discussed the matter at their workshop meeting Thursday night.

Business manager Tammy Smale gave a presentation to the directors called Capital Improvement Projects Forecast. In it, she explained that Polk Elementary needs about $9.8 million in capital improvements. The building also requires maintenance costs of about $200,000 a year. The maintenance cost is reduced to $61,668 per year, because it is leased to Behavioral Health Associates and The Growing Place, which pay rent.

One of the reasons this matter has come up is because BHA wants to purchase the building and expand its special education program.

Another reason supporting the sale is because Pleasant Valley’s enrollment continues to fall.

Smale said the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s projected enrollment figures show that student enrollment will drop to 3,813 students by the 2034-2035 school year, but the current enrollment is actually already below that number.

The school district’s June 2026 enrollment report showed there were 3,620 students in the district’s bricks-and-mortar buildings.

Director Matthew Walters was concerned that the school district might need the building back at some point if enrollment would increase.

Smale said there is room at the elementary, intermediate, middle and high school if enrollment increased.

Director Diane Serfass added that the 20 acres of farmland next to Polk Elementary could be used for construction if needed.

Smale also explained that the state DOE is predicting decreases in enrollment, because the birth rate has decreased nationwide.

Director Janet Dooner said her research showed that all four school districts in Monroe County have declining enrollment.

“That is one of the prevailing factors why I feel comfortable with this transition, mostly as long as the Growing Place is,” Dooner said.

If the directors approve selling the building, then BHA would purchase it “as is” for $1. The caveat is that if BHA no longer needs the building, then it would sell the building back to the school district for $1.

The school district will keep the 20 acres of farmland attached to the Polk property, subdivide it from the building, and continue to lease the farmland.

Smale said she and directors Norm Burger and Diane Serfass, and Director of Operations Randy Smale met with the Polk Township Zoning officer and township secretary this week.

“We reviewed this recommendation and they don’t see any issues with subdividing the property,” she said.

Smale said The Growing Place Polk would be relocated to the first floor of the JC Mills building next to the high school. This would give the high school students an opportunity to complete training there that they need for dual enrollment classes.

The Intermediate Unit Preschool Autistic Support classrooms also would be located to another building.

If the school district approves the sale of Polk Elementary at their voting meeting on Nov. 18, then the purchase would be finalized by November 2027.

The school district anticipates moving The Growing Place to JC Mills and move the IU Preschool Autistic Support classrooms in May or June 2028. BHA would take over ownership of Polk Elementary in July 2028 and the new name would be Polk Academy.

“The sale of this building does require 2/3 of the board’s vote, so if there is any hesitation, any questions, any clarification, now is the time to ask the questions before we invest any funds in subdividing or moving forward,” Smale said.

Director John Gesiskie asked if the agreement would stipulate that BHA has to keep up the building. Smale said that BHA has plans to improve the building. She said she has seen the work they have already done in it.

“It’s beautiful. It’s absolutely gorgeous, very colorful,” she said.

Serfass added that another benefit to this plan is that it keeps BHA in the county and easily accessible to the other school districts.

“So it’s a win-win for both PV and the other three Monroe County schools,” Serfass said.

The decision to sale the building will be on the agenda for the Nov. 19 voting meeting.