Update 2/17/23:
Deed for school property now available

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Watch the video here:
Newswatch 16's Amanda Eustice shows us the plans for the building in Monroe County.

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Author: Amanda Eustice (WNEP)

Published: 4:01 PM EST November 17, 2022
Updated: 4:01 PM EST November 17, 2022

MOUNTAINHOME, Pa. — While it doesn't look like it now, the former Barrett Elementary Center near Mountainhome will soon be the center hub for the community.

Barrett Township officials closed on the property a few days ago. The goal is to turn it into the Barrett Administrative and Recreation Complex.

Update 11/3/22 - Related Article:

• Former elementary center vandalized by group over the weekend (FOX)
• Plans for community center in Monroe County set back by vandals (WNEP)

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PLEASE!!! We need your help identifying these individuals. They broke into the Barrett Elementary Center just after midnight Sat night. These photos have been forwarded to PMRPD but if you have any information, please contact the police at 570-895-2400. We are currently under contract to purchase the building and any additional vandalism will just add more time and cost to the clean up and progress in developing what will be an asset to the community.

October 13, 2022
Attention Residents of Barrett Township and Surrounding Communities,

The Barrett Township Board of Supervisors is pleased to announce we are under contract to purchase the Former Barrett Elementary Center. The acquisition of this building and property is the first step in the long term goal outlined in our Strategic Plan (Feb 2019) to “develop a mixed-use community center, which could include recreation, arts, culture, and retail space“.

Update 1/7/2020 @ 10am

I am posting the remainder of the email thread between myself and Karl Stearns that didn't make it into the comments area:

 

Karl:
1/7/2020 @ 8:45am

My reference to you not understanding correctly was that you stated the Supervisors owned Barrett Elementary School and that is not correct.  The school was owned by the Pocono Mountain School District until it was sold supposedly for “senior housing”—which never materialized.

The whole history of the building of this school and the school in Tobyhanna is convoluted.  We were told back then that the old buildings were no longer “compliant” with laws regulating access by handicapped people.  Mostly because they were multistory buildings with no elevators.  The teachers were propagandizing the issue because the whole drive was to have new schools—nothing else.  Kids were going home armed with talking points to their parents and anyone who would listen about all the poor handicapped children who couldn’t attend school because the buildings were “old”.  I witnessed one young girl it total meltdown with tears and hysterical rambling as she tried to explain it to a group of adults. Amazingly, after the old buildings were vacated, they were eventually used again by the school district for classrooms. 

The quality of the schools in the PMSD became a selling feature that helped fuel the explosion in home sales in Monroe County.  City families were seeing ads touting the “advanced” Pocono Mountain School District with computer labs, new schools, sports stadiums….hell, yeah….let’s move to the Poconos.  Oh, and the “train to New York” was “just around the corner”—like it has been for almost 40 years.  A pipe dream that has been maintained by a close knit band of politicians because it is a financial boondoggle and has provided cushy jobs and big paychecks to a bunch of hacks.  You want to investigate things?  Look into that—and look into the history of the PMSD.

So, when the BEC and TEC were closed because of declining enrollment in the PMSD—due mostly to the financial implosion of 2009, the decision was made to put them up for sale.  Naturally, the taxpayers anticipated a reduction in school taxes since our money was extracted from us to pay for these expensive schools.  “Nope” said the School Board.  “State law prohibits us from refunding money.  We are required to SPEND the money.”  So, as is usual, suddenly we had an enormous need to have the children attending the Pocono Mountain West High School obtain a sports stadium.  The reason?  Well, they needed to have “school spirit” since it was demoralizing to the poor children to have to go to the “old” high school to play their football games.  So, millions of dollars was allocated to build a facility for them—funded by the sale of the school buildings.  Then of course the “old” high school needed an expensive upgrade to the turf on their playing field…again funded by the sale of the school buildings.

The history of this, along with the supposed “train service to New York” are just a couple of examples of the corruption and lack of care for the taxpayers—and the lack of common sense often exhibited by elected officials.  You can probably research the entire PMSD thing in the Pocono Record archives because it was all written up there.  There is a railway board that oversees the “train to New York”….they even built train stations in Mt. Pocono and Delaware Water Gap.  It’s a joke.

Karl

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Nate:
1/7/20 @ 8:51am

Are you saying that BEC was *always* part of PMSD? 

I was under the impression that it was a standalone / separate school that was formerly owned by Barrett Township. 

Somewhere between 1989 (when the school was built) and 2009 (when I moved into town) the school district took it over, no?

Your write-up below is really good, can I post it...? 

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Karl:
1/7/20 @ 9:15am

It was always owned by PMSD.  The old Barrett Elementary School was owned by the township like 50 years ago, but when they formed the PMSD, the property was turned over to the PMSD, and they build the BEC on the land behind the old school.    Sure, you can post my reply.  I’m hoping some others of the people who have been here for a long time will have similar recollections.  That’s one of the handy things for politicians—when no one remembers past history so they don’t raise any issues.  People need to know, or be reminded, of how this all developed and it should affect decisions for the future.

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[Original Post Below]

Editor's Note:  

If I understand correctly, at one point, Barrett Elementary School was owned by the Township of Barrett. It was later 'given' to Pocono Mountain School District? 

Now it's for sale a second time. 

Why wasn't it returned to the people of Barrett after it closed down in 2013?  

 

Recent History:

• 2013 - PMSD closes school due to declining enrollment
• 2015 - April - Barrett Supervisors issue "the following conditions" to Shepherds of Monroe County (see Supervisor Meeting Minutes, April 8, 2015; page 2) which include the "construction of an emergency access road north of the existing building, such that fire trucks could access that side of the building without getting stuck."  How much would these regulatory burdens have added to the developers' costs?  
• 2015 - June - PMSD sells property & building to Barrett Senior Housing LP (sale price - $1.6 million)
• 2020 - For Sale - $2.1 million

MLS Listing: PM-74302

This 59,825SF building on 31 acres was built in 1989 as an elementary school. Concept plans provide for 29 apartment units. Plans available. Zoned MU-V. Ideal for senior living facility, group home, etc. Check zoning permitted zoning uses. 

Financial Information
County Assessment: $897,780
Cnty&Muni Taxes: 37,257.87,
School Taxes: 121,460.66
Total Taxes: 158,718.53

Listing & Location Information
Current Price $2,100,000
County Monroe
Municipality/ Twnshp Barrett Township
Transaction Type For Sale
Ann Lease Price/SF 0
Location/ Developmnt Z Not In A Development
Tax ID Number 01638701497227+
Deed Book/Page 2455/198
General Zoning Comm
School District Pocono Mountain

This meeting is of massive importance.  All Barrett and Paradise residents MUST attend to have their voices heard!  There is LOTS of talk regaurding the opening of a Charter School if Barrett is closed.  I and MANY parents are for this.  We need to stand behind our children's education and social well being.  We want to see Barrett succeed and remain open, but if it does not, then a Charter may be our only alternative!  Please pass this information on.  There are people who have been working on this for months now and need our support.  More information will be announced at the hearing, Monday night.