Group wants to turn former Jeffery Primary into community center
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A group presented plans during a May 8 Shaler Area School Board meeting to run a nonprofit community center in the former Jeffery Primary School.
“We are calling ourselves Generations Community Center because we would like to address all of the communities in Shaler School District, including Etna, Millvale, Reserve and Shaler and just improve the life and growth and quality of things that we have around here,” said Kendra Detwiler, representing the organization.
The center would foster intergenerational relationships by offering programming aimed at families with young children, 20- and 30-somethings, and seniors through indoor sports, crafts and enrichment, exercise classes and event rentals.
“We want the community to be great, so I see us partnering with the community for parking for major events. I see us partnering with the school district in things that they might need. Partnering with the library, working with them. Other organizations, I’ve heard talks from the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, all these different groups,” Detwiler said.
Shaler Area School District decided to close Jeffery Primary School and relocate its students to the new Scott Primary School for the 2018-19 school year.
During a January board meeting, Shaler Township Manager Tim Rogers said that the Kiwanis Club’s intent was that the property surrounding Jeffery Primary would revert to recreational use if sold.
Detwiler said the community center would fulfill the district’s commitment to the Kiwanis Club.
Generations Community Center is in the process of obtaining 501(c)3 status.
The Northern Area Multi Service Center (NAMS), which provides regional programming for senior citizens, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and refugees, is serving as the group’s fiscal sponsor. Generations Community Center is consulting with Bayer USA Foundation, which aims to strengthen communities where Bayer employees and customers live and work.
One benefit of developing a nonprofit community center is to avoid increasing residents’ taxes in order to purchase and run the center, Detwiler said.
Furthermore, the nonprofit would have access to donations and grants that might be otherwise inaccessible. The nonprofit status would grant all of the participating municipalities of Etna, Millvale, Shaler and Reserve equal access to the project and make donations tax-exempt.
In order to fund the purchase, renovations and maintenance of the property, the group will seek donations, grants and fees for classes, tutoring, rentals and contracts with other service providers.
“Before and after school care is something that we’ve heard a lot about. We would like to partner with the school district in making that type of thing work to help with the school students,” Detwiler said, noting that the board had toured the building and corresponded with district buildings and grounds supervisor John Kaib regarding renovation costs.
School board member Steve Romac asked if the Generations Community Center board is prepared to make the district an offer for the property.
“So now is the time after bringing this up, we’re prepared now to ask for that call to action and say, ‘OK, folks, now’s the time to actually put your money where your mouth is. Tell us that you’re behind this,’” Libby Krepps, Generations board member, said.
School Board Vice President Tim Gapsky suggested that the Generations group meet with the Jeffery land committee, which the school board developed during that evening’s executive session.
“I think something that is very important with this board is seeing all municipalities represented. I think that is very important,” Superintendent Sean Aiken said.
“I think it would be worthwhile to actually sit down with the committee, the special projects committee that is working on Jeffery, and meet with your board and just share some ideas that you had and just consider some of the options.”
For more information, visit gencc.org.