The Auxiliary Services Committee was scheduled to focus on three matters: the possible sale of the former Plain View and East Arcadia school properties and the district’s policy governing community use of school facilities. The packet frames the property discussions as preliminary committee work intended to produce recommendations for the full Board of Education.
The district has received inquiries and expressions of interest concerning both former school sites. Administrators recommended using North Carolina’s upset-bid process and asked the committee to recommend minimum bid thresholds. Under that process, an initial offer is publicly advertised and may be exceeded by qualifying bids until no further upset bid is received. The full board retains authority to reject all offers.
The two properties differ substantially in size and assessed value. The Plain View property at 1909 Chickenfoot Road contains approximately 8.26 acres and carries an assessed value of $605,580. The East Arcadia property at 21451 NC 87 Highway East contains approximately 20 acres and carries an assessed value of $2,940,920. The packet does not identify proposed minimum offers, final sale terms, buyers, or closing dates.
The committee also planned to discuss Policy 5030, Community Use of Facilities. The policy establishes which community groups may use schools, how priority and fees are determined, what conduct is prohibited, and how applications and agreements are handled. The packet does not show a specific amendment, so the discussion may involve reviewing the existing framework rather than adopting a documented change.
There is a scheduling discrepancy in the supplied materials. The authoritative configuration identifies the meeting date as May 29, 2026, while the agenda document is dated Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. in the Board Room. Community members should verify the official meeting portal for the controlling date.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Plain View School Property and Proposed Upset-Bid Threshold
The committee was asked to review how the district should proceed with the former Plain View school property, located at 1909 Chickenfoot Road near Elizabethtown. County property records identify parcel 0025647 as approximately 8.26 acres with an assessed value of $605,580.
The site includes multiple improvements. The principal classroom building was constructed in 1951 and has 17,115 heated square feet. Additional listed structures include classroom buildings of approximately 4,568, 2,032, 651, and 651 square feet, along with a 1,120-square-foot manufactured structure. The packet lists total improvement value at roughly $533,300 and land value at approximately $72,280.
The district previously declared the property surplus and, as required by state law, offered it first to the Bladen County Commissioners. The packet states that the commissioners declined to purchase it. The committee’s task was not to approve a completed sale but to recommend a minimum threshold above which initial offers would be considered.
East Arcadia School Property and Proposed Upset-Bid Threshold
The former East Arcadia School property is located at 21451 NC 87 Highway East in the Riegelwood area. County records identify parcel 0027046 as approximately 20 acres with an assessed value of $2,940,920.
The property includes a 20,922-square-foot classroom building constructed in 1960, another classroom building of approximately 18,016 square feet, and a 9,118-square-foot commercial recreation building. The packet lists improvement value at approximately $2,878,320 and land value at approximately $62,600.
As with Plain View, the county commissioners were offered the first opportunity to acquire the property and reportedly declined. The committee was expected to evaluate a minimum bid threshold and return a recommendation to the full board. No proposed threshold, purchaser, redevelopment plan, or closing schedule appears in the packet.
How the Upset-Bid Process Would Work
North Carolina General Statute 115C-518 allows a school board to dispose of property that is no longer necessary or desirable for school purposes, subject to statutory procedures. Once the county commissioners decline the opportunity to obtain the property, the school board may proceed under Chapter 160A, Article 12.
Under the negotiated-offer and upset-bid method, the board may receive or negotiate an initial offer. If it proposes to accept that offer, the bidder must deposit 5% of the bid, and the district must publish notice. Other parties then have 10 days to submit a qualifying higher bid.
A qualifying upset bid must exceed the current offer by at least 10% of the first $1,000 and 5% of the remaining amount. Each new bidder must deposit 5% of the increased bid. The offer is readvertised, and the cycle repeats until no qualifying bid is received during the notice period. The board may then accept the highest offer, but it may reject any or all offers at any time.
Use of Sale Proceeds
State law limits how proceeds from the sale of school real estate may be used. The packet states that proceeds must be applied either to reduce the county’s bonded indebtedness associated with the school administrative unit or to capital outlay purposes.
That restriction means the proceeds would generally support long-term school facility or debt needs rather than routine operating expenses. The packet does not estimate net proceeds, transaction costs, or how the board would divide or designate proceeds from either property.
Policy 5030 states that the board supports making specified indoor and outdoor school facilities available to eligible community groups when such use does not disrupt school activities or damage district property. Potentially available spaces include auditoriums, athletic fields, dining areas, kitchens, classrooms, gymnasiums, media centers, and playgrounds.
School-sponsored activities receive priority, while the county board of elections is entitled to use school facilities as polling places. For-profit groups are not permitted. Other users are divided into categories, including school-related groups, political parties conducting specified meetings, local governments and youth organizations, and other nonprofit organizations.
Fees vary by category and may include rental, utilities, custodial services, supervision, and kitchen costs. The superintendent must submit a fee structure for board approval before each school year. The packet does not include the current fee schedule or a proposed replacement.
Facility-Use Applications, Agreements, and Conduct Rules
Groups seeking to use a school facility must apply to the principal of the school where the facility is located. Approved users must sign a written agreement with the superintendent or designee. Agreements generally may not exceed one year unless the board gives advance approval.
Users must comply with federal, state, and local law; accessibility requirements; district policies; and school rules. Tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, weapons, and explosives are prohibited except where limited circumstances are allowed by law. Users may not alter school property without written approval and must supervise participants, maintain safety and order, and remove their materials after the event.
Violations may result in suspension of facility-use privileges. The packet does not identify a particular incident or user group that prompted the committee’s review.
Financial Matters
The packet’s principal financial issues concern the potential disposal of two district-owned properties. Plain View has an assessed value of $605,580, consisting of approximately $533,300 in improvements and $72,280 in land value. East Arcadia has an assessed value of $2,940,920, consisting of approximately $2,878,320 in improvements and $62,600 in land value.
These assessed values provide context but are not identified as final asking prices, appraisals commissioned for sale, or approved minimum bids. The committee was expected to recommend thresholds for the first offers that the district would consider.
Any successful bidder would be required to make a 5% deposit under the upset-bid process. Subsequent qualifying bids would also require 5% deposits. Sale proceeds would be restricted to reducing applicable county school debt or supporting capital outlay.
Policy 5030 also has financial implications because community users may be charged for rent, utilities, custodial work, supervision, and kitchen use. No exact facility-use fees were included.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
The meeting included discussion of Policy 5030, Community Use of Facilities. The policy establishes priority among users, prohibits use by for-profit organizations, requires uniform fees within each user category, and directs the superintendent to publish available facilities and administrative regulations.
No marked revisions or proposed replacement language were included in the accessible packet. It is therefore unclear whether the committee was considering amendments, implementation concerns, or a general review.
The property-sale discussions are governed by G.S. 115C-518 and Chapter 160A, Article 12. A committee recommendation would not itself complete a sale. The full Board of Education would need to authorize the process, consider offers, and ultimately accept or reject a final bid.
Dr. Jason Atkinson was identified as the presenter for the property-sale matter. The administrative summary stated that the upset-bid process has worked well for other school systems and that the district has received inquiries and interest in both sites.
The packet also supplied county tax records describing acreage, building size, construction dates, parcel identifiers, assessed values, and improvement values. These records provide a baseline description of the properties but do not substitute for environmental reviews, title work, surveys, current appraisals, inspections, or redevelopment studies.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
No hiring, resignation, retirement, appointment, employment agreement, or organizational restructuring was identified in the packet. Chairman Edwards was designated to call the committee meeting to order, and Dr. Jason Atkinson was listed as presenter for the property discussions.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
The meeting’s facility focus was the disposition of two former school campuses and the rules for community use of active school facilities. Selling Plain View and East Arcadia could reduce the district’s responsibility for maintaining unused property and could generate restricted capital or debt-related proceeds.
The packet does not describe the current physical condition of the buildings, deferred maintenance, environmental conditions, utility status, security expenses, demolition needs, or anticipated buyer uses. Those issues may materially affect the properties’ value and future community impact.
For active facilities, Policy 5030 places operational responsibility on principals, the superintendent or designee, custodial personnel, supervisors, and approved users. School activities remain the priority, and outside use may not interfere with instruction or district operations.
No formal public hearing was listed. However, the upset-bid process requires publication of each proposed offer and provides a 10-day period for qualifying higher bids. That public-notice cycle is an opportunity for interested purchasers to participate.
Community members may also follow committee and full-board meetings through the official meeting portal and video channel. Questions regarding the properties may be directed to the Superintendent’s Office at 910-862-4136, according to the draft sale notice.
Taxpayers have an interest in whether the district obtains fair value for surplus public property and how sale proceeds are used. The upset-bid process is intended to expose offers to public competition, although the board must still decide what minimum thresholds and terms protect the public interest.
Residents near Plain View and East Arcadia may be affected by future ownership, redevelopment, traffic, property maintenance, or changes in community access. The packet does not identify intended purchasers or future land uses.
Students and staff could benefit indirectly if proceeds support capital improvements or reduce eligible school-related debt. Community organizations may be affected by any changes to facility-use rules, fees, available spaces, insurance expectations, or approval procedures.
- What minimum bid threshold is being considered for each property, and how was it calculated?
- Will the board obtain independent current appraisals before accepting an initial offer?
- What maintenance, insurance, utility, or security costs is the district currently paying for each site?
- Are there deed restrictions, environmental concerns, easements, or other conditions that could affect a sale?
- How will the board evaluate proposed uses and neighborhood effects, if those factors are considered?
- What transaction costs will be deducted before proceeds are applied to debt or capital outlay?
- Which capital projects or debt obligations could receive the proceeds?
- Will the district publish all offers, deposits, upset bids, and final sale terms?
- Is Policy 5030 being revised, and which provisions are under consideration?
- What are the current facility-use fees, and when will the next fee schedule be presented?
- How does the district ensure consistent approval decisions among schools and user groups?
- What opportunity will residents have to comment before the full board acts?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- May 11, 2026: The property-sale matter was presented to the Board of Education, with a recommendation that the facilities committee review the upset-bid process and propose thresholds.
- May 28, 2026: The agenda document lists the Auxiliary Services Committee meeting for 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. in the Board Room.
- May 29, 2026: The authoritative meeting configuration identifies this as the meeting date; residents should verify the official portal because of the discrepancy.
- Next regular board meeting: The committee was expected to return recommended bid thresholds to the full board, though the packet does not provide the date.
- After publication of an initial offer: Interested parties would have 10 days to submit a qualifying upset bid.
- Before each school year: The superintendent must submit the facility-use fee structure for board approval.
Key Takeaways
- The committee’s main task was to evaluate minimum upset-bid thresholds for two former school properties.
- Plain View is an approximately 8.26-acre property at 1909 Chickenfoot Road.
- Plain View’s assessed value is $605,580.
- East Arcadia is an approximately 20-acre property at 21451 NC 87 Highway East.
- East Arcadia’s assessed value is $2,940,920.
- The Bladen County Commissioners reportedly declined the first opportunity to purchase both properties.
- Each upset bid requires a 5% deposit and triggers a new 10-day public bidding period.
- The Board of Education may reject any or all offers.
- Sale proceeds must support eligible school debt reduction or capital outlay.
- Policy 5030 allows eligible nonprofit and community groups to use designated school facilities.
- For-profit organizations are not permitted to use facilities under the policy.
- The packet contains conflicting May 28 and May 29 meeting dates.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Bladen County Board of Education
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Elizabethtown, north-carolina
- County: Bladen County
- Provider: diligent-community
Keywords
Bladen County Board of Education, Auxiliary Services Committee, Plain View School, Plainview Elementary School, East Arcadia School, surplus property, upset bid, school property sale, G.S. 115C-518, G.S. 160A-269, capital outlay, bonded indebtedness, assessed value, Chickenfoot Road, NC 87 Highway East, Elizabethtown, Riegelwood, community use of facilities, Policy 5030, facility-use fees, school facilities, nonprofit groups, polling places, custodial fees, utility fees, facility agreements, public notice, board facilities committee
