SHARPSVILLE, PA. Charter school has building in mind

The proposed school needs to secure space before applying for a state charter.
SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- A school-in-the-making is interested in holding classes in the former South Pymatuning Elementary School.
The building was closed a year ago when the Sharpsville Area School District opened a new elementary school.
It wouldn't consist of regular Sharpsville classes, however, but it could be the home of the Advanced Charter Enterprise School being put together by Mercer County's public school superintendents and the Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission.
School's purpose
The school is being set up to serve pupils in grades two through seven who can't function in the regular classroom because of behavioral or emotional problems.
The school hasn't received a charter from the state yet, but there are plans to have it operational by fall 2003.
The Sharpsville Area School Board is holding a work session tonight to discuss leasing or even selling the South Pymatuning building to the charter school.
David DeForest, board vice president, said the board heard a presentation from the charter school earlier this month and the school is looking for about 20,000 square feet of space for its programs.
It has to secure space before it can apply for a state charter, he said.
Reaction unknown
DeForest said he isn't sure how the board will react to a suggestion that it sell the school.
When it was closed, the board indicated it planned to hold onto the property and develop it as a community center.
There are sports programs in the school and on the surrounding grounds, and some internal space has been leased for commercial purposes, DeForest said.