The Moline-Coal Valley School District is auctioning off surplus items on Saturday, and it's not just school supplies.
The auction is open to the public and they selling items like AV-equipment, lightly used furniture, storage, food preparation items, storage, outdoor equipment, and appliances, paintings, school supplies, iPods, MacBook laptops, desktop computers, and much more.
The auction will be at Garfield Elementary School at 10:00 a.m., doors open at 9:00 a.m. The event is open to the public. They are also having an open house on Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for people to preview the items being sold and put in silent bids.
"These are not just old desks and chalkboards," said Jon Bloomberg, the auctioneer of Bloomberg Auction. "These are things that are currently used in schools, there will be a number of school districts bidding here tomorrow from the outlying country area, so this is for everyone, it really is."
The district is required by law to hold an auction for their surplus items. Generally, none of the money generated from the auction goes back to the district.
"The proceeds from the sale of items will help support the cost of the auction. Historically, at best case scenario it is a break even process due to the auctioneer's cost and the cost of labor to bring all the items to the auction site," said Dave McDermott, CFO of Moline-Coal Valley School District. "This is the only way school districts can get rid of surplus items which were purchased with public funds."
Although Garfield Elementary School was sold to a developer earlier this year, McDermott said the vacant building offers the necessary space needed to house an auction without interrupting the education process at other district property.