Austintown school auctions raise more than expected

By kalea hall

khall@vindy.com

austintown

Raising more than $140,000 in five school online auctions surprised officials at Austintown Local Schools, who hoped for at most $100,000.

All proceeds from the items auctioned off will go to the permanent improvement fund and could go to buying new maintenance equipment, according to Superintendent Vincent Colaluca.

“We only spend that on [items] that last longer than five years,” Colaluca said.

In May, district officials decided to try the online auction with Watson Elementary School and Frank Ohl Middle School and raised a gross amount of $56,000. The tryout led the district, once again, to have Basinger Auction Service auction off a variety of items from Lynn Kirk, Woodside and Lloyd elementary schools last week. The auctioneer estimated the three auctions would raise roughly $35,000 to $40,000. In total, last week’s auctions made more than $90,000 for the school district to use.

“We are thrilled it went that far,” said Mal Culp, supervisor of facilities and operations for Austintown Local Schools.

Culp and the auctioneer credit The Vindicator with helping to boost the amount of traffic to the auction website and the amount of money received. One former teacher bought her own desk after reading the news and deciding to try to use her computer.

“People definitely bought things that meant something to them,” Colaluca said.

Items will be distributed for pickup by purchasers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 18-22 at the three elementary schools.