Shaler commissioners planning discussions for Jeffery Primary School property

The future of the land once occupied by Jeffery Primary School is a step closer to being determined.

The Shaler Township Board of Commissioners unanimously approved by a 9-0 vote a Jeffery Elementary School demolition project change order at its regular meeting on Feb. 14, which will allow a concrete sidewalk to be removed.

The school was closed to students at the end of the 2017-18 school year.

The building was then purchased by the township for $120,000 to use as a potential recreation center or combination rec center and the township’s public works department.

“The building was in poor shape when we bought it,” board of commissioners president David Shutter said. “When we went in to see if we could adjust the building so that it would meet some of the needs of the community, it was recommended that it be demolished. It made more sense to take the building down so we could start from scratch.”

The building was torn down last fall.

Shutter said there will be discussions on what the next step for the land will be.

“Are we going to put in a building? Are we going to put in a field?” Shutter asked.

During a public comment period at the Feb. 14 meeting, two citizens made a request on behalf of Shaler’s expanding lacrosse program to consider turning the land into an athletic field.

“We’ve had meetings with the community. We will continue to have more meetings with them to talk about what they’d like to see over there,” Shutter said. “A community center has been mentioned several times.”

Shutter said a series of meetings will be held in the spring with the general public.

“It will take some time. It’s not going to happen overnight. We have taken the building down so that’s a start,” he said. “It’s zoned residential so the problem is if you want to come in and put in businesses, it just doesn’t work.”

Other developments at the meeting included unanimous approval of the 2023 road paving list, including Seavey Highlands Drive and Seavey Road.

“Seavey Road is especially well travelled. You look at the yardage there, 7,000 square yards. The entire road is 12,000 square yards, so we’re not even paving the whole thing,” township engineer Matt Sebastian said. “But that’s one of those things where this is what the budget allows and so we try to fit in as much as we can. Hopefully the contractors are anxious to work on our project and will give us good bids this year. Maybe we’ll fit in more.”

The commissioners also unanimously approved the 2023 Crawford Pool rate recommendations. Resident rates are $220 per family, $185 per couple, $120 for a single adult, $95 per junior, $30 per child and free for children under 2 and seniors (over 65).

Non-resident rates are $375 per family, $325 per couple, $195 for a single adult, $145 for a junior, $125 per child and free for children under 2.

Daily rates are $6 for kids 2-5 on weekdays and $10 on weekends. Children ages 6-17 will pay $7 on weekdays and $12 on weekends. Children under 2 swim for free. Adults pay $10 to swim on weekdays and $14 on weekends.