Some school districts wait decades for someone — anyone — to show interest in their unused school buildings. As the years tick past, the buildings get older and more out-of-date, and often fall into disrepair.

A lot of districts beg for developers to show the kind of interest the former Butler Middle School has garnered, and the community has been so lucky as a result.

Sumner McDanel, a real-estate developer and the second-highest bidder for the property, has been awarded the sale after a hearing Wednesday, April 2.

McDanel has a unique approach to reusing and renovating the space. He plans to convert the perimeter of the building into condominiums and the interior into retail and salon spaces. He also wants to reuse the auditorium to take advantage of the theater space.

McDanel said the concrete structure actually makes a great starting point for the condominiums because they’ll be sturdy and soundproof.

If this plan is carried out and is successful, it could be a game-changer for old school buildings across the region that have sat idle for too long while districts, municipalities and developers try to figure out what to do with them.

Old school buildings have been converted into a lot of things over the years — single-family homes, warehouses, office spaces and even other types of learning centers.

But, it seems that so many of them continue to sit empty until they’ve outlived their usefulness and their appeal to developers.

Congratulations to the Butler Area School District for handling this sale, bringing money — $450,000 — into the district’s coffers at a time when federal education funding is a big question mark and ensuring this building will live on and not become a burden on the community.

— KL