Ysleta ISD declares three properties surplus, authorizes sale after trustees press for community outreach

The Ysleta ISD board approved a motion to declare three district properties surplus and authorized the superintendent to offer them for sale, after trustees raised constituent concerns about notice and potential reuse. The properties named in the motion were Plato Academy (8441 Alameda), Fine Arts (8455 Alameda) and Tejas School of Choice (7500 Alpha).

Trustee Connie Woodruff recounted a community meeting where residents expressed fear and misinformation about the sale process and whether properties could be gifted to nonprofits. "We can't give district property away to anybody," Woodruff said, explaining district fiduciary constraints and why a sale is used to return funds to taxpayers.

Legal counsel described the formal sequence that follows a surplus declaration: obtain appraisals, issue solicitations and requests for offers, and then evaluate responses. "First, you must declare that they are surplus properties, then I obtain appraisals, then we issue a solicitation, request offers to purchase," counsel said. Counsel and trustees also discussed rezoning notice procedures and the city planning commission process; staff noted city rezoning notices have a limited radius and that signage is required when rezoning is pursued.

Trustees approved the surplus declaration and sale authorization by electronic vote (5-0). Administration said it has received some nonprofit interest historically but reiterated district law prevents simply gifting property and that any less-formal partnership would require a public-benefit rationale. Trustees asked administration to consider broader outreach to affected neighborhoods to reduce confusion ahead of future rezoning steps.