If Michael Bowen and his wife, Darlene, have their way, then South Vernon Elementary School is going from schoolhouse to a house of God.
The Bowens were the top bidders Thursday at an auction of the 1950s era school that the Winfield school district shutdown in May 2006. School board members will consider the bid of $74,000 Tuesday night and decide whether to accept it.
With its arched dark wood ceiling it wasn’t too difficult for Michael Bowen to imagine the South Vernon gymnasium as a church. The Bowens are leaders of the fledgling Wings as Eagles church, a congregation of 25 to 30.
“We’ve been meeting at a home,” Michael Bowen said as he stood in the gym just after the auction. “We intend to use this as a church. I’m sure it will fit our needs just fine.”
The evening’s top bid was well under half of the $191,000 appraised value given by the county. School district officials decided on the auction format due to the number of inquiries about the building.
But Thursday’s sale, conducted by Webber Land Company, lacked the brisk back forth pace associated with some auctions. The bidding started at $40,000 and took twenty minutes to reach the end price.
Those associated with the sale acknowledged they thought the 7,183 square foot building, that comes complete with its own playground, would sell for more.
Of the roughly 50 people in attendance, many were former students or teachers at the school located just off U.S. 160 a few miles west of Winfield. Others in attendance were associated with two churches that did most of the night’s bidding.
Glennis Zimmerman, assistant superintendent for the district, observed the auction and assured potential bidders that the building had been thoroughly inspected.
The Bowens were required to pay $10,000 in non-refundable earnest money after the auction concluded. If approved, the sale should close by June 25.
Joe Haggard, of Webber Land, said the school district will decide if the bid is a fair offer.
“I don’t know if it will hold up, but if it does they got a steal,” he said.