In response to a growing need for space, the Scranton School District is considering a strategic acquisition that could significantly impact its future operations. The district has set its sights on the former Penn Foster building, valued at $2.2 million, and is prepared to resort to eminent domain if necessary to secure the property.
The Need for Expansion
With an increase in special education students and enrollment numbers remaining steady rather than declining, the district is experiencing what Superintendent Erin Keating describes as a “dramatic space crisis.” The 85,000-square-foot facility, situated on approximately 16 acres in North Scranton, is seen as a potential solution for accommodating special education classrooms, pre-kindergarten, early intervention programs, or even an elementary school.
District solicitor Larry Moran Jr. underscored the urgency, stating, “We need this urgently. We need this yesterday.” Despite attempts to purchase the building from its current owner, 925 Oak LLC, negotiations have stalled, prompting the district to consider using eminent domain—a legal mechanism that allows the government to claim private property for public use.
Educational Needs and Facilities
Several years ago, the district contemplated consolidating and closing facilities, including the closure of Bancroft Elementary in 2021. Reopening Bancroft now carries an estimated cost of $18 million. In 2023, a study by McKissick Associates projected enrollment might decrease to 8,269 by 2032. However, current enrollment remains around 9,200 students, with 57 autistic support classrooms already in place.
The district, under Keating’s leadership since 2024, has expanded school-based autistic support by opening eight to ten new classrooms over the past three years. Additionally, the Jim Connors Learning Center at Monticello East was introduced this school year to support early elementary students with autism.
The Building’s Potential
Moran referred to the building as a “unicorn” due to its adaptable space, which could be ready for educational use within six months of acquisition. Despite the 7-2 board vote to pursue the property through eminent domain, directors Carol Cleary and Catherine Fox expressed reservations, emphasizing the need for more information.
Fox, reflecting on the gravity of the decision, remarked, “I understand that we have space concerns, and I want to make sure all of our students and staff have places to go. I want to make sure that we do things legally and the right way because it’s not my money. It’s taxpayer money.”
The board’s decision allows Moran to proceed with filing a Declaration of Taking in the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County, initiating the eminent domain process. Under Pennsylvania School Code, the district is authorized to use eminent domain for school purposes when an agreement cannot be reached with the property owner.
Sarah Hofius Hall
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WVIA News
