A new policy would guide Fort Worth ISD leaders in tackling major real estate sales as they examine what to do with closed schools<\/a> and Farrington Field<\/a>.<\/p>\n The proposal comes after FWISD community members expressed concern at board meetings and listening sessions about the sale of public properties. Their worries stem from a Texas-appointed board of managers making decisions rather than elected trustees, whose governing authority was removed.<\/p>\n The policy outlines a six-step process for administrators to follow as district-owned property is proposed for sale. Steps can be skipped only through a recorded vote by the school board. Managers gave initial approval to the policy on July 21 and will finalize the policy on Aug. 11.<\/p>\n The policy mandates the district hold at least one public meeting in an affected neighborhood, seek written comments for at least 30 days and inform nearby property owners and groups.<\/p>\n In May, Erika Ramos, mother of a FWISD student, said she was concerned about the district\u2019s sale of property to Fort Worth, to be used for two parks<\/a>. She wanted to understand what pushed FWISD to sell the land and whether the land would remain available for use by the public.<\/p>\n \u201c\u200aThis is one of those moments where we’re asking for a little more transparency around what is happening to our public spaces, what long-term protections will exist in writing for this land moving forward,\u201d Ramos told managers. \u201cI hope you’ll take these concerns into account for the current and future asset sales that you’ll certainly consider.\u201d<\/p>\n FWISD can only sell the property through a competitive bidding process. A no-contact rule bars bidders from lobbying officials outside a designated channel.<\/p>\n The updated real estate rules require the board to approve a sale only by adopting written findings and explaining why the board has chosen to go against staff and community recommendations, if members do so.<\/p>\n The rules slow down FWISD\u2019s property sales process. After the board declares property eligible for sale, district staff must spend the next 60 days producing an independent appraisal, a title review, environmental screening and a summary of how the property is currently used.<\/p>\n During a May 20 community meeting, residents told Superintendent Peter Licata<\/a> that they want the district to slow down, protect public ownership and treat Farrington Field as something more than developable land. Preservation advocates also wanted FWISD to pay attention to the historic status of the stadium.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce you lose publicly owned land, you will never recover that space,\u201d Lon Burnam, a former Texas House member and FWISD alumnus, said during the late May meeting.<\/p>\n Some of those concerns are reflected in the new policy, including a section requiring administrators to determine whether a property is considered a significant real estate transaction that either has a monetary value of higher than $5 million or civic value.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a transaction that would meet a certain bar for which we would ask the administration and the board to do additional due diligence,\u201d said Frost Prioleau, a FWISD board of managers member who spearheaded the policy\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n State law requires school districts to allow other public entities, including charter schools, to review the property and bid. However, the law allows that the board can refuse to sell to a charter school<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n FWISD also will provide written notice to the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County and other park or civic organizations when a sale is contemplated, so that they may propose to buy the land for a public use at a below-market price.<\/p>\n Manager Luis Galindo said the policy is based on comments and public reaction the board has heard as it examines Farrington Field\u2019s future and the sale of several properties, including some to the city for parks<\/a> and, potentially, Charles E. Nash Elementary<\/a>.<\/p>\n Galindo wants more public input on the policy ahead of next month\u2019s board meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the key components that\u2019s going to make this work is public participation,\u201d Galindo said. \u201cWe need to hear from you guys on what you think about this policy before it becomes final policy.\u201d<\/p>\n Jacob Sanchez is education editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org<\/a> or @_jacob_sanchez<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Disclosure: FWISD manager Pete Geren leads the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, a financial supporter of the Fort Worth Report. FWISD manager Laurie George is a member of the Report\u2019s reader advisory council. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. 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