Greater Johnstown board approves move of central administration to downtown office

The Greater Johnstown School District board voted to relocate its central administrative offices to a downtown office suite and approved a move vendor, citing rising repair costs and improved public access.

Business manager Paul Butchko told the board the district’s current administration building requires major capital work — including roof replacement bids ranging from $547,000 to $660,000 and an initial HVAC estimate of $142,000 — and would require the district to take on debt to cover near‑term repairs. "To ensure a district operates effectively and remains accessible, our goal is to relocate to an updated, efficient, and fully accessible facility," Butchko said. He presented a comparison showing an estimated 10‑year savings of roughly $400,000 if the district leases downtown space rather than finance repairs.

Butchko said the proposed site — listed in the agenda as Suite 200 in a downtown plaza identified by the administration — is near public transportation and would include negotiated…