Abington Heights Weighs Options for Administration Building

District officials focus on other facility projects as they consider cost-effective solutions for the aging administration building.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Abington Heights School District is exploring options for its administration building, which was previously a high school and elementary school before being renovated in 2001. While a potential sale could provide revenue for other projects, the district is currently focused on more immediate facility needs, such as a $50 million middle school addition and a $1 million project at South Abington Elementary. District officials say they are still reviewing all possibilities for the administration building, but maintenance issues and other priorities take precedence at the moment.

Why it matters

The administration building has a long history in the community and is used for district offices as well as community athletic events. Any decision about the building's future will impact both the school district's operations and the local community that utilizes the facilities. The district is weighing the potential benefits of selling the property against the building's continued importance as a community asset.

The details

The Abington Heights administration building was originally constructed in 1922 as a high school and later became Grove Street Elementary School before being renovated in 2001 for use as the district's central offices. It currently houses around 20 district employees across various departments. In addition to office space, the building also contains a gym, locker rooms, and a meeting room used for school board meetings. The property also includes the district's maintenance building and Comet Stadium, which is used by high school and community athletic teams.

  • In March 2024, the school board approved an agreement with a Scranton-based attorney to explore selling the administration building.
  • At a recent school board meeting in February 2026, a resident asked about the status of the administration building.

The players

Abington Heights School District

The public school district serving the Abington Heights community, which is considering options for its administration building.

Mark Stahller

A Waverly Township resident who asked the school board about the status of the administration building at a recent meeting.

Christopher Shaffer

The superintendent of the Abington Heights School District, who discussed the administration building and the district's other facility priorities at the recent school board meeting.

Rocco Valvano

A Scranton-based attorney who the school board approved an agreement with in 2024 to explore selling the administration building.

Warren Acker

The president of the Abington Heights School Board, who commented on the tradition and community use of the Comet Stadium located on the administration building property.

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What they’re saying

“We are still in that place where we are exploring all of our options but we first have to figure out what's doable with maintenance.”

— Christopher Shaffer, Superintendent (The Times-Tribune)

“It's not a decision we take lightly.”

— Warren Acker, School Board President (The Times-Tribune)

What’s next

The school board will continue to evaluate the options for the administration building, but immediate facility needs like the middle school addition and elementary school project are the current priorities.

The takeaway

The Abington Heights School District is carefully weighing the future of its historic administration building, balancing the potential benefits of selling the property against the building's continued importance as a community asset. While exploring all options, the district's focus remains on addressing more pressing facility projects that are essential to serving students.