BRACEVILLE — Township trustees have given approval to proceed with the demolition of the former Vaughn School building off Braceville Robinson Road.

Trustees had a special meeting recently where they spoke to Aziz Roshid, who owns the property, noting that little work has been done on the building over the years, so demolition is the next step.

Roshid said he planned to get work done on the building’s roof now that the weather has improved. He said roof replacement work would cost $100,000.

He said when funds became available, plans were to make improvements to the windows and cleaning of former classrooms and the gymnasium. He told trustees the building will be used for storage of equipment and work was done to remove items from the building.

Officials said the building and property at 544 Braceville Robinson Road is 28,332-square feet, with the property zoned residential. Trustee Chairman Todd Garland said the structure was declared unfit for human habitation by zoning officials.

The former elementary school was part of the LaBrae Local School District for grades K-4. Trustees said when the new LaBrae school complex was opened, the Vaughn building was no longer used. The school has been closed since the early 2000s.

Garland said Roshid purchased the property in 2017 and has had nine years to make improvements. A letter was sent in 2025 about the condition of the building and the demolition notice.

Garland said because little work has been done on the building, demolition will proceed in 30 days. He said the building has been declared unsafe and structurally defective.

Attorney Christine Davis, representing the township, presented evidence to support the claim the structure is a nuisance and threat to public health and safety, and should be demolished.

Garland and Trustee Jeff Tucker voted in support of proceeding with the demolition, while Trustee Dennis Kuchta abstained from voting, saying he owns property near the school.

Officials said Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership will work with the township on the demolition. Township Fiscal Officer Tom Shay said the property owner can decide to demolish the school or TNP can do the demolition.

In other business, trustees:

• Announced an America250 celebration will be July 26, hosted by the Braceville Historical Society. The event will conclude a year of events to mark America’s semiquincentennial.

• Approved Walters Paving at $54,000 to pave the walking path in the park. The park also has a book exchange box where residents can take a book and leave another for someone else.