The Parkland School Board has turned down a request from Lehigh Carbon Community College for advance approval to take action in purchasing real estate to replace existing buildings in Allentown and Carbon County.

School board President Roberta Marcus, who serves as a trustee on the LCCC board, explained the situation at the Jan. 27 meeting.

The college has outgrown the Donley Center in downtown Allentown and wants to purchase a larger building, preferably in center city, said Marcus.

As the Carbon County facility in Jim Thorpe is rented, LCCC would like to buy its own building to serve students in the area, she added.

LCCC is not looking for any additional capital contributions from sponsoring school districts to acquire the new sites but will seek grants to help pay for them.

Within a reasonable period after procuring the new real estate, the college would sell the Donley building and terminate use of the Carbon County facility.

District Superintendent Richard Sniscak reported the reason for LCCC's request.

"They want to expedite purchase in a pretty hot real estate environment," Sniscak said.

Marcus reported it would take several months for all 13 sponsoring school districts to vote on the real estate in the conventional manner of doing things.

In that time, the chosen property could be taken by a different buyer and LCCC would lose it.

The unanimous negative vote came as a surprise with no remarks during the meeting.

Afterward, Sniscak explained the real estate issue was discussed in executive session, which is permissable under the open meeting Sunshine Law.

He commented on the reasons for the vote of opposition.

"We have a problem with the process, not the intent," Sniscak said. "We don't believe we can legally do this. It is a procedural issue.

"We believe LCCC rules require them to reach an agreement of sale, then ask us to vote on it. They're asking for pre-authorization.

"Purchase of real estate in the school code has a process. We feel they're not adhering to the code."

He said the seven sponsoring school districts that have given approval have a different opinion regarding the process.

The measure requires approval from nine districts.