Christian school building to be sold

The private, nondenominational school, formerly known as Sterling Christian School, closed Dec. 21.

Principal Paul Rowe and board President Roger Young at that time declined to give a reason for the closure, but a letter to former board members obtained by Sauk Valley Media seems to indicate the school was in financial trouble.

“I’m notifying you ... that the payroll taxes are still unpaid,” reads the letter, dated Jan. 18 and signed by Young. “That holds the school board at that time liable for the incurred debt.

“[M]easures have been put into place to rectify this situation.”

Young did not return a phone call seeking more information Monday.

The school building at 5505 Anne St. in Galt, west of Sterling, is up for sale.

The 15,000-square-foot building on 2 acres is listed for $95,000 through Jim King Jr. of RE/MAX Sauk Valley.

Online listings indicate the building first was listed at $250,000 on Nov. 9, and then at $195,000 on Dec. 13. Listings show the price dropped to $95,000 on Jan. 27.

The building is locked and a sign on the door indicates visitors must make an appointment to be let in the building. No real estate sign stands outside.

A public auction of the building’s contents also is scheduled for Saturday.

Among the items up for sale are computers, TVs and DVD players; copy machines and printers; office furniture; appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers and ranges; and school furniture and fixtures, such as desks, lockers, chalkboards, world maps and gym equipment.

Auctioneers Lyle Dirks and Merrill Johnson are handling the sale.

All proceeds from the sale of the building and the auction will go toward the debt, the letter states.

The current school board also wants to meet with former school board members to discuss the matter, the letter says. A meeting is planned for Feb. 12.

“We aren’t sure that between the sale of the contents and the building we will be able to cover the total mortgage on the building and the [payroll tax] liability incurred ...” the letter reads. “If that is the case, the responsibility falls back on the 2011-12 school board.”