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Board hears proposal to explore buying Northern Regional Police building as CTE center; trustees ask for study and presentation
Summary
A board member reported touring the Northern Regional Police building and urged the district to study purchasing it (price reported between $350,000 and $450,000) as a multi-district CTE center. The board asked administration for more information and authorized further investigation and a presentation.
A board member told the Dover Area School District Board on Jan. 21 that he and a colleague toured the Northern Regional Police building with Chief Dave Lash and that the regionals plan to sell the facility. The board member said the seller had indicated an asking range of $350,000 to $450,000 and suggested the district study whether buying the building could be used as a multi-district career-and-technical-education (CTE) center.
What was proposed The idea discussed was to purchase the building, use the first and second floors for district-run CTE programs (examples mentioned included cosmetology, culinary and nursing), and lease the third floor (the regionals expect to keep the 9-1-1 dispatch function there and would rent the space). The presenter said consultants/partners (named Chuck Benton in the meeting) have reviewed feasibility and could advise the district.
Why it mattered Board members discussed potential benefits: increasing local CTE capacity (the district and neighboring districts sometimes have waiting lists for regional programs), potential subsidy increases because CTE funding is per-student, and possible revenue or cost-offsets from renting space. The speaker also warned of capital and operational costs (renovation, commercial kitchen equipment, parking, accessibility and staffing) and said permits and zoning questions had started to be explored.
Clarifying details mentioned in the meeting - Quoted asking price range for the building: $350,000–$450,000. - Approximate site size stated in the meeting: 1.9 acres (presenter said “roughly 1.9”). - The third floor was described as likely to be used for a 9-1-1 function by the regional service and could be rented to offset utilities. - A member who toured the site said Chuck Benton had already done preliminary development work and was willing to assist the district.
Board response and next steps Board members asked for more information rather than taking any acquisition action at the meeting. Trustees asked administration to gather details on renovation costs, equipment needs (for example, commercial kitchen appliances), potential CTE grant funding sources, operating costs and a possible business model (including tuition from out-of-district students). The board agreed a presentation laying out options, costs and revenue scenarios would be useful.
Direct quotes - “They are planning on selling it somewhere between 350 and $450,000,” the board member said after the tour. - “If we were as a school district to take a look at that...it’s something to take a look at at that price where it’s located to turn it into a CTE center,” he added.
Ending The board asked administration to bring back a more detailed slideshow or feasibility presentation, including likely renovation and equipment estimates, potential partners, and a draft business model if the district chooses to continue exploring the acquisition.
