New Orleans to sell flooded buses on eBay

[TexasStooge]

NEW ORLEANS, La. (AP) - Starved for cash, the New Orleans school district is taking a long shot and hoping to sell its flooded, unsalvageable school buses on eBay.

Some submerged to their roofs in the black flood waters, the yellow school buses were widely photographed in the days after Hurricane Katrina and have become an icon of the city's devastated school system.

School officials acknowledge the sale of the buses on the Internet auction site may puzzle some people used to more traditional school fundraisers like bake sales.

"There's no shame in it. Not one bit," said school board president Phyllis Landrieu. "This is a new mechanism for selling things. I think it's very upbeat what we're doing."

Only 23 of 117 Orleans Parish public schools have reopened. They face a $111 million shortfall -- about a quarter of the district's $430 million annual operating budget. The district also has $264 million in outstanding debt, carried over from before Hurricane Katrina.

A total of 85 schools flooded, and wind damaged many more. It took three months for the first public school to reopen. Now, the schools that are holding classes have around 9,500 students, about 15 percent of the 60,000 enrolled before the storm.

The school district plans to put one bus up for sale on eBay this week. If it succeeds, more of the 259 ruined buses will be offered.

"It's an example of how bad the situation is that we would have to come up with this idea," said Richard White, schools spokesman.

The district plans to contract out its student transportation.

[LSU_Weatherguy]

as of 4/3/06 at 10:46 the bus is up to $6,300.00 with 3d 20h 41m left on bidding the Reserve that they set up for the bus has not been meet. I have heard on the news that it is some where around 9,000

[Dionne]

That is ridiculous. Submerged for 10 days in brackish water and it won't crank. Although, what you pay for the bus less its salvage value will be a write off for '06. Salvage value as scrap metal might (emphasis on "might") be around 3K. And thats only because metals are so high right now.

[Mattie]

Just for another view of the devestation, take a look at the real estate ads for New Orleans. That's another eye opener. And, of course, the normal person can't afford the asking price of most and they are being sold as is, where is.

[alicia-w]

i agree. if it isnt salvageable to the City, why would someone else want it? I think putting a reserve on it is a bit odd. Just set a higher starting price and get what you can!

[Dionne]

Highest bid was $6700 which did not meet the reserve. I don't think they really wanted to sell. It was just a fishing trip.

[LSU_Weatherguy]

Highest bid was $6700 which did not meet the reserve. I don't think they really wanted to sell. It was just a fishing trip.

The Reserve was set at 9,000.00 dollars. I heard this on the news when it was first put on ebay.