The land around Farrington Field<\/a> and the former Charles E. Nash Elementary<\/a> will be the first test of Fort Worth ISD\u2019s new rules for selling school property.<\/p>\n The Texas-appointed board of managers adopted the new policy Aug. 11 establishing a higher bar of review for significant real estate deals<\/a>. The rules went into effect immediately and will govern the two potential sales.<\/p>\n The rules impact real estate transactions of $5 million or more and those with civic value. The district must work through a set process before reaching the board: an independent appraisal, a title review, environmental screening and a summary of how the property is used.<\/p>\n The district must hold at least one public meeting in the affected neighborhood, take written comments for at least 30 days and notify nearby property owners. Sales only move forward through competitive bidding.<\/p>\n The previous policy<\/a> outlined none of that. It gave the board authority to declare a building surplus, sell it and reject any bid.<\/p>\n Fort Worth resident Steven Lawrence, a lawyer, said he supported the change. However, he told the board that it should not make any significant real estate transaction until elected trustees return. He suggested managers bar themselves from selling any significant real estate.<\/p>\n \u201cNo matter how good of people you are or how good your heart is, you guys are here on a threadbare legitimacy in the terms of representative government,\u201d Lawrence told managers. \u201cYou answer to one man, and that man cannot be removed by the people. You can\u2019t be removed by the people.\u201d<\/p>\n Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath gave the managers<\/a> the same authority as elected trustees. The governor appoints the education commissioner.<\/p>\n Manager Frost Prioleau, who spearheaded the new rules, said the policy was built to slow down decisions FWISD can\u2019t reverse.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know these are decisions that can\u2019t be undone,\u201d Prioleau said. \u201cAnd that was the real purpose of putting this policy in place \u2014 to make sure there was sufficient community input and that there are no places for self-dealing, which is also reinforced by the ethics policy<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Gordon Appleman, a longtime Fort Worth resident and lawyer, was not convinced the new rules will impact current deals.<\/p>\n \u201cDoes it apply to Farrington Field<\/a>?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n Indeed the rules do, said Deputy Superintendent Kellie Spencer. Farrington and Nash Elementary have to satisfy the requirements before either comes to the board of managers.<\/p>\n The periods seeking requests for proposals for Farrington and Nash closed, Spencer said.\u00a0<\/p>\n FWISD is seeking buyers for land surrounding the historic stadium, a process that began under elected trustees and that was interrupted by the takeover<\/a>. The district\u2019s new appointed leadership restarted the Farrington Field process over community concerns about blitzing into a deal.<\/p>\n Across town, the district wants a buyer for Nash Elementary, a 99-year-old campus near the Trinity River and downtown that closed May 21 as part of FWISD\u2019s plan to shrink its <\/a>number<\/a> of schools<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fort Worth resident Charles Bilz had one request from managers: \u201cAny sales need to be truly public.\u201d<\/p>\n The intention of the new rules is for increased transparency, board President Pete Geren said. Managers will examine each deal through one lens.<\/p>\n \u201cReally just with the overarching look at whether that transaction is in the best interest of the district and the district\u2019s students,\u201d Geren said. \u201cAnd how that might support driving future student outcomes.\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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