Prescott school goes to auction Feb. 17

PRESCOTT — The empty Prescott Community School property will go for auction in just under two weeks, bringing another chapter in the district’s consolidation with Creston Community Schools.

The sale, to be performed by Kretzinger Auction of Corning, will take place 10:30 a.m. Feb. 17 on the school grounds at 801 1st Street in Prescott. An early viewing of the school and grounds will be Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Included in the auction will be the 102-year-old main building and nearly 8 acres of accompanying grounds and structures, which include a full indoor basketball court, bus barn, walking track, baseball diamond and a 1961 school building with a brand-new heating and air conditioning system. The entire property will be sold at once.

“It’s in remarkable shape, and in the newer building there’s a $30,000-plus heating and cooling system,” said auctioneer Dan Kretzinger. “It’s quite the property. (We’re) just hoping somebody can come up with some ideas of use.”

Prescott School Board President Randy Cooper said while he has heard of some local interest, he doesn’t know who the buyer may be. But Cooper said if the buyer decides to keep the building open to the community, the playground equipment belonging to the school will stay on the grounds. Cooper said children in town still come by to play on it.

“Our dream come true would be to give it to someone who wants to make it a public use area,” he said. “Hopefully, the building can remain in the community.”

Prescott Schools officially consolidates with Creston July 1, but both districts have been planning the move since 2013. Prescott students who have not open-enrolled out of the district now attend classes at Creston Schools, and a Creston-Prescott combined board has been meeting since December to handle business affecting the 2016-17 school year and beyond. The board, which includes four current Creston members and Prescott member Don Gee, will become the official Creston Community Schools board in July.

Cooper said while it’s been hard to lose the community’s school, Prescott consolidated at the right time. He said all the bills are paid and the school has had full control of the facilities through this entire process.

“Because of Creston, this has all been possible to go ahead and have control of it,” Cooper said. “We sold all the desks, equipment and dishes earlier, and now we have the choice to do this auction.”

Cooper said there is no minimum price set for the school. For the full sale bill and photos, visit http://www.kretzingerauction.com/schoolsale.html.