Items 9.13 and Item 10.2 relating to the new DISD Administrative
Headquarters at 9400 North Central Expressway
At the DISD School Board meeting on 4-28-16 the 8 trustees voted
5 to 3 to purchase a $46 million building at 9400 North Central Expressway as
Administrative Offices. Two of the yes-vote trustees are no longer on the
board. Now it appears this issue has
been pulled from today’s agenda.
That is sad.
This current Central Headquarters is actually north of the DISD student
population center for DISD. The 9400
North Central Expressway location will simply be 6 miles more distant from most
DISD students and parents. DISD wants parents to get more involved, but is
moving 6 miles farther away from the large majority of parents.
The original vote on this purchase was only made public within a
week of the board meeting. The only
testimony at the meeting was against it, by me. I gave copies of a map,
online linked from dallasisd.us, to the trustees to document how this is a move
away from the children. That was apparently not important except to the
three trustees who represented far south Dallas and the schools that would
simply all be 6 miles more distant from DISD Headquarters. Now there are two new trustees whose
districts will also be 6 miles more distant from this new “Central” location
and thereby negatively affected by this move.
DISD must have a second vote as only 1/3 of the current board approved
this damaging move. The people should be
represented.
Here is the map I handed out at the 4-28-16 meeting:
This map clearly shows how the 9400 North Central Expressway location pulls the "Central" Headquarters much farther away from the center of DISD and away from the large majority of DISD schools.
Also, I have not heard data about the energy costs in this new
location. Buildings this age are often
imploded due to maintenance and energy costs.
Is that a factor with this building?
At the meeting discussing this building I do not recall hearing
questions about energy consumption. Now
we are already talking about $12 million for modifications.
I have gone to examine the building on a cold morning and could
not help but notice locations where air was obviously leaking around windows
from the building. Are such repairs
included in the modification?
The logic behind centralizing staff is very good, but not when
it is 6 miles more distant from most DISD families. The Nolan Estes Plaza is a much better
location and within 5 miles of three times the number of schools of the 9400
North Central Expressway location. Clearing that land for a new building seems
to be the most efficient move, especially if we can take advantage of the next
Dallas building downturn.
