Friday, February 15, 2013

Wichita’s former Mueller Elementary School was auctioned off Friday with a tentative high bid.

The school, just northwest of 21st and Hillside, is where thousands of Wichita students started their education for 60 years. Now it could be turned into housing.

Auctioneer John Rupp tried to start the bidding at $100,000, but no bids came. He finally dropped it to $10,000 before bidders commented.

Just a couple years ago, I was in Mueller when the aerospace and engineering magnet received a $2 million grant from the U.S Department of Education.

This school year, the students moved into the former Isley Elementary.

The school board sold it at auction as surplus property.

Six bidders worked the bidding up to the 50 thousand-dollar range, where it reached a conclusion at $56,000.

High bidder Mark Cox says he develops housing for low income and persons with disabilities in Wichita. He doesn’t think it’ll take a lot to make the former school ready for housing.

“Yeah, it's a remarkable price,” he said. “We'll have to see what the board has to say about it.”

The board has the final say whether to accept or reject the bid. They’ll take it up on February 25.