HOUSTON — The Houston Independent School District board is considering selling nearly 20 district properties.
The discussions come after voters rejected a massive $4.4 billion school bond proposal on Election Day.
It was a long Thursday night for board members as they talked about selling the real estate as well as listening to legal advice in the wake of the failed bond proposal.
A lack of trust with state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles and the Board of Managers is what many community members have voiced concern with.
"We tried to warn you that the community would not pass your $4.4 billion bond," one speaker said.
It was the first meeting since the bond failed and board members emphasized they wanted to get to the root of the issue.
"I would like to state on the board's behalf that we are all disappointed with the defeat of the bond election last week," a board member said.
"It is time to understand the lack of trust that led to the failed bond proposal," a speaker said.
More opposition surfaced when board members discussed the possibility of selling 19 properties.
"I oppose the selling of the properties," a speaker said.
HISD is considering declaring 19 properties as surplus and authorizing them for sale. Many are former elementary schools that have closed. Two had been set aside as future career and technical education schools in the now-failed bond.
"If they were valuable enough to be useful as working property, why are they suddenly now surplus?" Sarah Terrel said.
Terrell, with Community Voices for Public Education, said the properties being discussed are HISD jewels that shouldn't be sold.
"If we were going to have another bond, we would want to have as many properties in as many places in town as we can to give us the flexibility," Terrell said.
It's unclear how much the properties are worth or who they would be sold to.