The overview
Prior to authorizing the superintendent to enter into the MOU, the SAISD board of trustees heard a staff update regarding the progress of the negotiations between the district, county, city, developers and Missions’ ownership related to the potential sale or exchange of district property for the construction of a downtown Missions stadium.
“We have given direction to the superintendent to prepare and enter into a nonbinding memorandum of understanding, and to use that as a basis to continue negotiations with the relevant parties in order to develop a final contract,” SAISD board President Christina Martinez said.
The staff update centered around five elements trustees approved Nov. 18.
The original elements included:
- Appointing the SAISD superintendent to a seat on the Houston Street tax increment reinvestment zone, or TIRZ
- Funding the construction of the Advanced Learning Academy
- Providing necessary parking with safe passage to the Fox Tech campus
- Providing $400,000 per year to compensate for the loss of interest if SAISD was to have sold the property through a sealed bid process
- Guaranteeing affordable housing in SAISD attendance zones
- The designee to a seat on the Houston Street TIRZ was revised to a seat on the San Antonio Housing Trust Board.
- The developer has agreed to work with SAISD to evaluate opportunities closer to the Fox Tech campus and on/near the Euclid campus to accommodate a pre-K-5 Advanced Learning Academy. SAISD would be responsible for funding the construction of the new school. This proposal hinges on the developers’ success in completing a land purchase agreeable to SAISD.
- Parking will be located on the same side of the street as the Fox Tech campus to avoid having to cross South Flores Street. Temporary parking will be provided during the construction of the Fox Tech parking garage.
- Providing $400,000 per year to compensate on the loss of interest was revised by the county’s agreement to waive equivalent parking garage fees for the use of the Quincy parking garage and to incur no fees for the use of the new Fox Tech garage. Additionally, at the conclusion of a 30-year lease, SAISD would own both garages.
- The guarantee of affordable housing in SAISD attendance zones has been revised to a proposal that the city and county adopt five-year measurable housing goals with a focus on family affordable housing in the urban core, including SAISD’s attendance zones.
“We are pleased that all parties are collaborating to uphold the district’s values of keeping students and their families at the forefront of our conversations,” SAISD Superintendent Jaime Aquino said. “We know that a vibrant downtown community includes family affordable housing, close proximity to quality schools and robust economic development. I am proud that we are united on this.”
Stay tuned
If all parties come to an agreement during negotiations, the next step would be to collaborate on applicable contracts and agreements that would be approved by the respective governing bodies and boards.
