Lehighton board debates elementary school appraisals

A debate on the appraisals of two recently auctioned Lehighton Area School District elementary schools came to a head during Monday’s board meeting.

Mahoning and East Penn elementary schools were auctioned in November and sold for $350,000 each.

The district is closing all four of its elementary schools following the 2017-18 school year and opening an elementary center for all of its K-5 students.

Duane and Lavona Schleicher plan on turning the East Penn building into a senior living center, while Behavioral Health Associates will continue to use Mahoning as a school for its program.

Before the auction took place, district solicitor William Schwab said the appraisals for both buildings were within 10 percent of the $350,000 base bid.

On Monday night, board member David Bradley Sr. asked for the name of the company that did the appraisals and a copy of the appraisals.

Schwab, however, said a mistake occurred leading to no hard copies of the appraisals.

“The appraiser did the appraisal. He gave us the numbers and never sent a bill or a copy of it to our business office,” Schwab said.

Per the public school code, any property sold by public auction does not require appraisals.

Verbal appraisal numbers were shared with the board before the auction, Schwab said.

As for Bradley’s request for the name of the appraiser, Schwab said that information will not be made public.

“I would never tell you period, as I’m not going to expose someone else to your ridicule and your harassment,” Schwab said.

“I’ll never say it so long as you’re on the board, and you will crucify that person who made a mistake.”