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File Photo. A report suggests the province should make it easier for groups to buy schools like Marshall Park in North Bay and turn them into community hubs.
A new report from the Premier’s special advisor on community hubs says the province should make unused schools easier to sell, and help school boards be able to sell the schools at a lower than market value.
The report, from advisor Karen Pitre, has some merits, according to David Thompson, the Chair of the Near North District School Board.
Thompson’s board currently has three schools for sale and three more coming for sale in the next year, so he is looking for any break the board can get.
Thompson says the report, if implemented, could be a start.
“Our current legislation states that we must sell for market value. And that’s something that will continue until the government changes the regulations to allow us to do that. The report basically talks about some of the stumbling blocks to having hubs move forward. Certainly when you’re involving so many different ministries and agencies to try and create a hub you can imagine certain levels of bureaucracy and the right hand not talking to the left hand.”
The idea of a non-profit hub has several non-profits getting together and purchase a school, then work together to pay for it, at the same time putting all services under one roof.
Groups talked about the plan in North Bay in the past, but price had been the stumbling block.
If the province implemented the recommendations, the process may be easier.
But Thompson is cautious about the concept of lowering cost.
“We certainly got fair market value for Tweedsmuir, and certainly when you look at other schools, it does make it difficult. Fair market value remember, one person’s willing to pay and what the board is willing to accept, and so fair market value may be different than what the appraiser would say and it depends on the economy of the local area.“
“There are going to be schools that are going to be worth less and their going to be a challenge to get rid of. Some are going to be in a great location; Tweedsmuir was a prime example.”
The other suggestion in the report is to double the time period a school board can offer a school to non-profit agencies from 90 days to 180.
Thompson says that may actually delay the process should a private company want the building.
He’s also concerned about the concept that a school board, in need of funding, should be encouraged to sell lower than market value.
“If you’re talking about the school board and you have a private sector person who wants to give fair market value for a property and you have a non-profit institution, I’m guessing that the current state of the economy the school board is going to take the private sector, they’re going to get the cash. It’s going to pit private sector versus non-profits.”
Thompson says the report also makes it easier for hubs to be created in existing schools, potentially making them more viable, especially in rural communities like those in the Near North Board.
“This report, if approved by the government, would provide easier access to surplus schools or the ability to create a hub rather than building new buildings.”
Thompson does say the framework and the report is at least recognizing that the schools need to be sold, and that boards across the province can use the money.
He says if the province implements the report, and it’s easier to sell the buildings, he’s supportive.