Schools For Sale

VINCENNES, IND. (WTHI) - A Wabash Valley school system is awaiting bids on one million dollars worth of old buildings.

The Vincennes school system has 3 empty buildings for sale.

With bids due next week officials are hopeful that new owners will be ready to step up and purchase the surplus facilities.

Vincennes has a huge former middle school, an almost 100 year old former administration building and elementary school that are empty and up for sale.

School officials say the former Washington School has generated the most interest from potential buyers.

"The Washington school site has some more desirable aspects," said School Board President Aaron Bauer. "It's a little more based out at the edge of the city, so there's more room I think for development."

School officials say so far there has not been as much interest shown in the old Administration Building and the Middle School, but they also point out those large properties have their own attractive characteristics.

"There are still tax incentives to re-hab and develop those buildings and the individuals I think that have looked at them are taking that approach," said Bauer.

The school system hopes to see all of the buildings converted for public use and put on the tax rolls.

With bids due next week they are hopeful they will have buyers that are as willing as the school system is to be sellers.

"We feel good about the people we've shown them to," said Bauer. "Of course we don't know until bid day is here, but we're optimistic."

The sale would finally allow the school to stop spending money on buildings that kids no longer use, and allow that money to be shifted to instruction.

Bids for the buildings are due on February 6th at the current Administration Building on Hart Street.

School officials say the highest and best bid will be the one accepted.