North Elementary School in Poland is located at 361 Johnston Pl. and has been vacant for almost 10 years. 

In an effort to avoid demolition, school board members in Poland are in the preliminary stages of leasing parts of the building to behavioral health and developmental disability organizations in Mahoning Valley. 

Superintendent Craig Hockenberry said one group that wants to lease six spaces in the building is Community Behavior Consulting Group.

The group already works with students in the district, but now they want to expand and serve up to 30 more kids within the Mahoning Valley.

Hockenberry told 21 News that the district spends $70,000 a year to maintain the building. He said leasing it to organizations that focus on behavioral health and developmental disabilities will help ease the burden for tax payers while providing crucial services.

"Over the next several months [we hope to] work out all the details and tune everything up and put this beautiful building to great use for kids in the Valley," Hockenberry said. 

A few years ago people living near the school prevented a charter school for at-risk youth from taking over the school. Hockenberry expressed that won't be the case this time. 

"[It will be] a small group instruction, small group therapy and work for kids with disabilities," Hockenberry said. 

Before a final decision is made, the school board still needs to approve any lease.