Blaney Addresses Building Closures at Statewide School Law Workshop
Troy, PA - As Pennsylvania school districts grapple with decisions about closing and repurposing school buildings, attorney Casandra K. Blaney of Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams LLP addressed the complex legal requirements involved during the Pennsylvania School Board Solicitors Association's (PSBSA) annual School Law Workshop, held October 19th in the Poconos.
Blaney co-presented "From Last Bell to For Sale: Navigating School Building Closures" with attorney Megan M. Turnbull. Both serve as sectional directors of the PSBSA.
The session examined the legal steps involved in closing a school building, from the initial decision through the eventual sale, transfer or repurposing of the property. Topics included Pennsylvania Public School Code requirements, school board actions, public hearings, collective bargaining obligations and real estate transactions. The presenters also highlighted common legal pitfalls and strategies for helping school districts manage the process.
The annual School Law Workshop brings together Pennsylvania school law practitioners for advanced discussions of emerging legal issues, regulatory requirements and practical solutions to challenges facing public school entities.
At Sweet Stevens, Blaney advises school districts and other public entities on legal matters involving administration, operations and real estate transactions. Her practice also includes property acquisitions and ownership issues.
Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams, LLP was formed in 1995 by nine experienced education lawyers who created the first private law practice in Pennsylvania dedicated entirely to Education Law. Since then, the firm has grown to 26 attorneys who represent over 290 school and municipal entities as Solicitors or as Special Counsel in more than 50 counties throughout Pennsylvania, and in additional practice areas, such as Construction Law, Tax Assessment Appeals, Audit of Operations and Practices, Real Estate Law and Oil, Gas and Mineral Law.