Tecumseh Public Schools board approves sale of two closed school buildings to local investors

TECUMSEH, Mich. — On an April 2025 special meeting held at 6 p.m., the Tecumseh Public Schools Board of Education voted to sell two closed district buildings — Patterson Intermediate Learning Center, 401 N. Van Buren St., and Harrick Park Intermediate Learning Center, 600 Harrick Park Drive — to ZB Investments LLC and Timandia LLC, respectively, for $150,000 each and authorized Superintendent Matthew Hilton to execute the purchase agreements and closing documents.

The sales resolve offers the district received over spring break and follow an earlier attempt to market the properties. Superintendent Matthew Hilton said the district also received an informal offer on both buildings for a combined $60,000 but that two formal, cash offers from out-of-area companies based in Adrian, Michigan, were submitted with attorney-drafted addenda and signed by the buyers.

"I do believe that we have two really nice offers on these properties that the board should consider," Superintendent Matthew Hilton told trustees before the votes. He said each purchase agreement includes an addendum designating the buildings to be sold "as is," and that buyers had agreed to an initial acceptance deadline that was later extended to Friday, April 4, at 8 p.m.

Nut graf: The board said selling the two vacant buildings would remove liability and recurring upkeep costs from district books while returning property to the local tax rolls. Trustees and staff said deferred capital needs and falling enrollment made retention financially unsustainable; board members estimated capital repairs of roughly $1,500,000 per building and said added code upgrades could be required if a closed building remains unused for more than a year.

Details of offers and financial…