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JACKSON – The Northampton Board of Education considered offers to purchase the Seaboard-Coates property at their regular meeting here on July 11.

Phil Matthews, the temporary special assistant to the district’s Interim Superintendent, presented the bids to the board. He also detailed the next steps the district will take to sell the former elementary school.

“We have received two offers,” Matthews stated.

Those offers came from A.J. Demory & Grace Enterprises, LLC in the amount of $18,500 and from Baltimore Marine Salvage in the amount of $15,000. Both are “as is” offers due to liabilities on the property, including an underground fuel storage tank and the removal of electrical wiring by vandals.

Seaboard-Coates Elementary School was closed over 15 years ago by the district in a school consolidation plan. The property is a little over eight acres and contains two buildings.

Matthews stated that the recommendation was for the board to approve the A.J. Demory & Grace Enterprises, LLC bid, being the higher of the two. If accepted by the board, the bidder would have to make a five percent deposit. Then an “upset bid” procedure would begin for a ten-day period. If no other bids are offered, then the property will be sold to the highest bidder.

Board member Dr. Marjorie Edwards motioned to accept the $18,500 bid, and Barbara Stephenson seconded. There was no further discussion from the board, and the vote was unanimously in favor by a 6-0 vote. Board member Tony Burnette was unable to attend the meeting.