BELLAIRE, Ohio — St. John Central Academy in Bellaire closed its doors for good in July, but the historic school building is up for sale at half its value and the equipment inside is headed to the auction block, according to reports.
St. John Central Academy, opened in August 2019, closing after just six years.
Now, the three-story structure located at 3625 Guernsey Street— complete with a basement and gym — is on the market for $361,500, roughly half its appraised value, according to Belmont County Commissioner Vince Gianangeli, who also serves as the academy’s fiscal manager. Bellaire Local Schools officials and local business owners are exploring a potential purchase.
The previous school in the building was St. John Central High School which began as St. John School back in 1879, owned by the Catholic Diocese of Steubenville. The diocese announced the closure of St. John Central High School in February 2019, with operations ceasing in June of that year.
Following the closure, a private committee established St. John Central Academy, which opened in August 2019. This summer, it shut down reportedly due to a lack of funding.
Along with the building, an estimated $100,000 worth of science equipment and other school supplies will be offered for sale. Items range from telescopes to anatomical models.
An auction is planned to showcase the materials and sell the items at bargain prices. The auction date has not yet been announced.
Former students seeking transcripts can contact Bellaire Local Schools, which now houses the academy’s records.
