Hammondsport, buyer cancel Curtiss school sale

    HAMMONDSPORT—The Hammondsport school board will once again put the former Curtiss school building on the market to be sold.
    The board of education approved looking for new buyers at the Wednesday, July 11, school board meeting.  The board had previously approved a contract with Simon Sananas on Feb. 15, 2012, for $301,000.  Sananas had proposed turning the building into an art and educational center.
    However, Superintendent Kyle Bower said the sale fell through because the district could not reach an agreement on extending the due diligence period with Sananas.  Bower said Sananas’ opportunity to inspect the property expired in May.
    “Both sides decided to go their separate ways,” he said.
    Bower added that the district will look for a new broker to sell the building.  He said the district wants to get the property on the market as soon as possible.
    The Curtiss school has been vacant since July 2010 when all students were consolidated to the Main Street campus.  The district made the decision to close the Curtiss school due to declining student enrollment.  The board originally approved the sale to the town of Urbana, but residents voted the sale down in 2011.
    In other business:
    •  Jim Zimar and Frank Curran were reelected as the board president and vice president respectively.
    •  The school board made other regular appointments and designations during the annual reorganizational meeting.
    •  Volunteer bus drivers were approved by the board, including Bower, Principals Tad Rounds and Michaelle Simcerbox, Clerk Nancy Clark, and any new coaches appointed througout the school year.
    •  The board approved the first reading of new and revised policies.
    The next Hammondsport school board meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 15. at 7 p.m.