District explores sale of Claymont Intermediate building, seeks auction representation

Superintendent Brian Rentsch told the Claymont City Board of Education on May 11 that the district is exploring options to sell the Claymont Intermediate building and has been approached by a realtor and an auctioneer to represent the district.

Rentsch introduced Amy Myers of The Barnett Realtors and Bob Hall of Cronebaugh Auction, saying they are "interested in representing Claymont BOE in the sale of the Claymont Intermediate building and any other items." He told trustees the law requires the district to offer the building to any community school or chartered non-public school in the community first; there are none in the district. Rentsch said the district would like to complete the sale before winter to avoid additional holding costs and that an auction timeline would take at least 60 days.

The board received the introductions as part of the administrative reports; the minutes do not show a formal motion to list or accept a sales agreement at the meeting. The presentation included facility and site-planning notes such as possible playground upgrades at the middle school and considerations for turf versus mulch. Administrators said the timing and sales method would be developed in subsequent staff work and, if needed, returned to the board for formal approval.

No financial terms or appraisal values were presented in the minutes. The administration noted statutory first-offer obligations to community or chartered non-public schools; the minutes record that none exist in the district and that staff would proceed with next steps toward listing and possible auctioning.