The Cameron County school board has announced it is accepting sealed bids for the former Driftwood School.
According to the Cameron County School District’s Business Manager Carl Mitchell, the school, which ceased operations in the 1960s, was deeded to the Borough of Driftwood by the school school district for the sum of one dollar in 1966. There was a stipulation in the deed that ownership of the building will revert to the school district at any time the borough no longer used the property “solely for the governmental functions of said borough,” as mandated by Section 707 of the PA Public School Code of 1949.
The school has three classrooms and a small, centralized common area with a restroom. There is also a basement with a dirt floor, and a full attic.
In November 2015, the borough of Driftwood approached the school district expressing that they could no longer afford to maintain the building and were no longer using it for municipal purposes. The borough wanted to sell the building, presuming the school district would waive the reverter clause in the deed as precluded in the school code’s section 707, Mitchell explained. Subsequently, no action occurred.
He also explained that in April 2017, the school district’s solicitor recommended that the borough grant possession of the Driftwood School back to the school district. The borough filed for the reversion of the school on Aug. 7. The reversion was officially recorded with the county on Sept. 28, and the school district once again became the owner of the school.
The school board had no desire to retain the property, as it was of no use to the school distric, Mitchell saidt.
On Nov. 8, the school board adopted a resolution authorizing the sale of the former Driftwood School building via sealed public bids. Terms and conditions of the sale were fixed within the resolution.
The school board did not set a minimum bid amount, recognizing the fact that the building –– while structurally sound overall –– does require a significant level of deferred maintenance and renovation, according to Mitchell.
He said, “We are hopeful any proceeds from the sale will offset the costs of the bidding process.”
