Notwithstanding sections 123B.52, subdivision 1, 471.345 or any other law, the board of a school district or of a cooperative center for vocational education may, in lieu of advertising for bids, sell at public auction to the highest responsible bidder a building constructed or to be constructed by a secondary or postsecondary school student or class as a school assignment. A board shall publish notice of a sale at least two weeks before the sale in the official newspaper of the district, or in the case of a cooperative center, in the official newspapers of each of the member districts, and may, at its discretion, publish additional notice in the official paper or elsewhere. A building may be withdrawn from sale prior to the completion of the sale unless the auction has been announced to be without reserve. If the sale is made at public auction, a duly licensed auctioneer must be retained to conduct the sale. The auctioneer shall be paid from the proceeds of the sale or from any funds available to the board which are not otherwise restricted or encumbered.