Two elementary schools in Lehighton Area School District will be auctioned Wednesday morning.

The schools, East Penn and Franklin, are two of four district buildings that will close to students and staff at the end of the 2017-18 school year. Beginning in 2018-19, all K-5 students will attend an elementary center under construction adjacent to the high school.

Earlier this month, Lehighton’s school board accepted one pre-bid for each property. Duane and Lavona Schleicher bid $350,000 on East Penn, while Behavioral Health Associates bid $350,000 on Mahoning.

According to Lehighton solicitor William Schwab, they will be considered the floor bids at Wednesday’s auction. No additional bids will be accepted less than $352,500.

Since that early October meeting, however, Lehighton has received additional interest in the buildings.

“We’ve had around four prospective bidders ask for information since that time,” Schwab said. “I was surprised at some of the interest. We’re hopeful that additional bids on the day of the auction will drive it up.”

Appraisals have been done on the schools but Lehighton has not released those amounts.

Possession and closing will be held following the 2017-18 school year for both buildings.

One board member, Richard Beltz, voted against advertising the buildings for auction and accepting the pre-bids.

“Wait until the end of the school year to advertise it and that way the whole eastern side of Pennsylvania can have a chance to see this for sale,” Beltz said. “There is no reason to rush into selling these buildings.

“You may get a buyer at a much higher rate.”

The majority of board members, however, said the sale of the schools keeps the district on track with the building program it established several years back.

“The next step in the business plan are these sales to complete the process,” said Larry Stern.

Money from the sales, according to district officials, will be used to help pay down the debt incurred for Lehighton’s $33 million elementary center.

Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 has expressed interest in a lease of Franklin Elementary School. In April, Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said the lease would most likely be for $90,000 per year and the IU would be responsible for all maintenance and repairs.

The auction will start at 10 a.m. at the district administration building.