As we previously reported in Plano ISD District of Innovation Innovates Loophole to the Detriment of Community? and Buy 1 Get 2 Free, something smells rotten with how the Plano ISD Board of Trustees and District Administration are going about the selling of the school campuses that they are closing this May 2025.
After their initial public announcement of this plan at their September 17, 2024 Work Session Meeting, the Board and District Administration followed up at the October 22, 2024 Work Session Meeting with an interlocal agreement between Plano ISD and the City of Plano.
At that meeting, Trustee Lauren Tyra thanked the City of Plano for helping her not do the job she was elected to do:
That’s a lot of words as Trustee Tyra thanks the City of Plano for enabling her to neglect her responsibilities as an elected Trustee for Plano ISD and breach her fiduciary duties.
Why isn’t the Board ensuring that they hire people who do specialize in these transactions to give them input and recommendations rather than absolving themselves of the responsibility they signed up for when they agreed to act in the best interest of the community they serve? For something of this magnitude, consultation by an objective, third-party expert is within the scope of these seven people the community entrusts and elected.
Then there’s the issue of what the Board and District are not saying, which is how many other interested parties reached out to them about purchasing these closing campuses. As detailed in this email below, Trivium Academy reached out to Plano ISD about acquiring one of the campuses, meaning Plano ISD wouldn’t be using our tax dollars to demolish the building and would be maximizing profit for taxpayers.
Plano ISD’s response to Trivium Academy: SILENCE.
According to Trivium Academy Board Member Erica Tuscano, no one has ever responded to any of Trivium Academy’s inquiries. Tuscano expressed frustration that Plano ISD is “blatantly ignoring an opportunity to serve in the best interests of students AND taxpayers.”
SPOILER ALERT – the first property that Trivium Academy expressed interest in was Carpenter Middle School, and weeks later, Plano ISD announced that Carpenter Middle School was the one property it was holding on to. Imagine that.
We have received information that would indicate that others have also approached Plano ISD with interest in purchasing one of these campuses, including at least one charter school and one private school. We’ve also received information that charter schools within the boundaries of Plano ISD never received notice that these properties were going to be for sale, as Plano ISD is required to do by state law.
Take note, the selling of these campuses to the City of Plano has not been finalized and in fact appears to be contingent upon the City of Plano passing a bond this May to be able to pay for these campuses. If the bond passes, will Plano taxes increase to be able to pay off this new debt? Even if this does not result in a direct tax increase, why would taxpayers want to pay again for properties they already funded and maintained?
Plano ISD Trustees still have the opportunity to do right by taxpayers and genuinely seek to maximize profit for a district that is millions of dollars in debt while also respecting the neighborhoods in which these campuses exist.
Side Note:
We actually learned much more about this “deal” through the greater transparency of the City of Plano on their October 28, 2024 Meeting Agenda:
Educate Plano 