Oct 24, 2022 5 min read

The former Monongahela Elementary Center building sold earlier this month to a cyber charter school based in Harrisburg.

Commonwealth Charter Academy bought the unused property in two parcels from Venetia Commons LLC for a total of $525,000.

Senior Vice President of Outreach and Government Relations Tim Eller said the charter school plans to turn the building into a family service center, which would serve as a home base for area students and a community event center.

“Our goal, or our philosophy, is to not rebuild or develop in the communities we operate in,” Eller said. “We like to grab ugly ducks and keep historical value in communities.”

CCA is an online school with 21,000 students and 14 centers across the state, including Homestead, Seven Fields and Cranberry.

Eller said the pandemic doubled student enrollment and they’ve begun establishing more campuses in Western Pennsylvania to keep pace.

“Our goal is to have a campus within 45 minutes of any family in the state,” Eller said. “When it’s all said and done, we plan to have 20 campuses statewide.”

Eller explained that the school seeks active partnerships with local residents and their campuses hire within the community.

“We don’t like to come and be isolated,” he said. “We want to be part of the community. We make our buildings open to the community. People can plan events and use it at no cost.”

CCA, and many charter schools, often seek to provide alternative education options for kids who may not thrive in a traditional classroom.

According to Eller, CCA offers kids and families flexibility when it comes to curriculum and graduation timelines.

“We want kids to leave high school with a plan,” he said. “We want them to be able to test what they like, discover what they don’t like, and leave the school with some real life skills.

“We say we have one times 21,000 students because we look at each individual student.”

While CCA has purchased the building, city ordinances require the deed to be in hand before council can begin incorporating the tenants into the city.

CHARTER SCHOOL • A2 FROM A1 According to tax records, the property was purchased Oct. 6. Because deeds from the county usually take 30 to 60 days to come down, no official action may be taken before at least early November.

“We’re still waiting for the deed to come down from Washington, Pa.,” Monongahela Councilwoman Sarah O’Brien said. “When the deed is in hand, we can start talking about it.”

The building’s history, and difficulties balancing public opinion and civic goals, underscore the property’s future as the new owners move forward.

The facility was built in the 1920s and served as Ringgold’s high school building until 1979, when it was converted to an elementary center. The district shut it down in 2011. Venetia Commons had owned the property since 2014, after Carmen Paliotta Contracting Co. purchased it from Ringgold School District for $71,500 and transferred it to the limited liability company.

The building quickly fell into disrepair after it closed, becoming a target for vandalism and a frequent location for police and other first responder calls.

According to city council members, one incident saw people light a large fire in the gym. “It’s unfortunate, what’s happened with that building,” Councilman Ken Kulak said. “It’s been a playground for kids. They would sometimes even film themselves and post it on social media. I’m glad someone will occupy it and hopefully improve the situation.” “I’m very excited to see something good come for the city, instead of just leaving the building and letting it continue to deteriorate,” O’Brien said.

Natural forces have diminished the old high school, too. In 2014, then-Ringgold school board Vice President Bill Stein told the Tribune Review that he “wouldn’t let (his) dog in this building … it’s not safe to be inhabited.”

The previous owners had originally planned to renovate the building. Monongahela native and historic building preservationist Terry Necciai said there had once been plans to create a senior living center at the facility.

But shifting designs and difficulties complying with zoning ordinances prevented any attempt at reuse.

The property continues to rest in a strict residential zone and in the past, residents have been vocal about how they’d like to see the property used.

“The zoning made it difficult,” Kulak said. While it remains to be discussed, O’Brien said CCA would likely have to file for a zoning variance to operate out of the location and a majority of residents would have to approve the application.

“There’s a whole lot involved and a lot we don’t know until we discuss it,” she said. “But they’ll need to fill out all the proper paperwork and permits.”

While the building’s future is still foggy, Kulak and Necciai both believe the building has great potential for the city.

“The gym is still very usable,” Kulak said. “And the auditorium, seating area and stage are in repairable shape.”

“I haven’t seen a brick out of place,” Necciai said. “The walls are plum. It’s a steel frame building, and steel frame buildings don’t go anywhere.”