Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Pennsylvania High School Puts Itself on eBay

Cash-strapped school for troubled teens tries 'Hail Mary pass'

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 3, 2012 1:24 AM CDT | Updated Jul 3, 2012 1:53 AM CDT

(Newser) – A Philadelphia-area high school has put itself on eBay to offset crippling budget cuts. The Learning Center—an alternative school for at-risk teens—describes itself as "slightly used but extremely successful" in the listing, ABC reports. The buyer won't get the school itself, which belongs to the Neshaminy School District, but will get naming rights, the opportunity to deliver a speech at graduation, tickets to two football games, and a large pizza—as well as "the good vibe of securing the future of so many otherwise lost young souls," the listing says.

The starting bid is $599,595, the exact amount needed to keep the school open next year. "I know it's crazy," says the school's principal. "But with the good The Learning Center does, it's crazier not to do it." The idea came from 17-year-old student Casey Young, who attended the school for a year before returning to a regular high school. "Casey kept saying, 'What if, like, Bill Gates reacted or some guy shows it to a billionaire who had trouble as a teenager?'" his father explained. "It was realistic that if it did get attention, that someone would put up that money. It's like throwing a Hail Mary pass. It's a long shot, but sometimes they play out."

The Learning Center school in Langhorne, Pa. hopes to raise funds by putting itself up for auction on eBay.
The Learning Center school in Langhorne, Pa. hopes to raise funds by putting itself up for auction on eBay.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The Learning Center school in Langhorne, Pa. hopes to raise funds by putting itself up for auction on eBay.
The Learning Center school in Langhorne, Pa. hopes to raise funds by putting itself up for auction on eBay.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
11%
11%
11%
58%
1%
8%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Nexant
Jul 3, 2012 7:38 AM CDT
I already checked the ABC article which includes the link to the auction.  It has already been pulled down by someone even though the article on ABC said it was supposed to close Wednesday.
chillette
Jul 3, 2012 6:43 AM CDT
Why don't they turn it into a charter school? Aren't charter schools and private schools suppose to be so much better? Oh wait, they deal with the students charter and private schools don't take. Nevermind.
Aratar
Jul 3, 2012 5:55 AM CDT
Tickets to two football games?  You couldn't provide them a free pass for life for saving your whole goddamn school?
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne