Board president flags $3 million land purchase by Commonwealth Cyber Charter Academy near Altoona

During his report the board president said he found media reports that Commonwealth Cyber Charter Academy purchased land in Blair County for about $3 million and plans to build a roughly 40,000-square-foot facility. He noted that the charter system appears to own substantial property holdings (he cited an online figure of about $80 million) and said the development could draw teachers and staff away from local district schools.

The president framed the development as a local concern, noting that some neighboring school districts “struggle to put roofs on existing buildings” while the charter is acquiring property. He expressed frustration about the apparent imbalance in resources and predicted the charter would “be poaching our teachers and our staff.”

Trustees asked whether the charter property purchase would be subject to local property tax obligations; the president and other trustees noted tax exemption questions depend on township boundaries and the charter’s status. The transcript records no formal board action to oppose the purchase or to pursue local policy changes.

Why it matters: A new charter facility in or near district boundaries could affect enrollment, staffing and local planning; property-tax and zoning implications depend on precise parcel location and applicable law. The board president’s remarks were framed as a heads-up to the community rather than a motion or formal complaint.

Next steps: No formal action was recorded. Trustees said the president would likely repeat the report at the next meeting to ensure local media coverage and community awareness.