The numbered cards and the fast talking auctioneer were at Roosevelt Thursday morning. People gathered with hopes of outbidding their neighbor and walking away with a promising piece of property.

“I just don’t like seeing them shut it down because there are a lot of parents who don’t drive and the new schools are further away,” said Steubenville resident Rebecca Buckey.

“I went to Roosevelt School. I taught here, so I have a lot of history here. They’re great pieces of property. There’s certainly something we can do to turn it into something valuable for the community,” said Steubenville Councilman Ed Chanoski.

The school district is constructing new buildings so they must sell the old ones if nothing is being done with them. The district does have a say in the final bidder. The Board of Education will approve the buyer of each of the buildings on Aug. 20. There is also a stipulation that the buildings cannot be bought by any other school district and cannot be used as a public school.

The proceeds of the auction go towards the Ohio School Facility Fund. If the buildings don’t sell the board will have to tear them down.

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