SAN MARCOS CONSOLIDATED ISD
In a letter addressed to Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra and San Marcos City Manager Stephanie Reyes on Dec. 19, SMCISD Superintendent Michael Cardona announced that the school district wishes to cease negotiations on the purchase of the property adjacent to Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos. The letter also states that the district does not authorize further evaluation or testing of the property.
Becerra posted the letter on his Facebook page on Dec. 23, stating disappointment in the school board’s decision to not move forward with negotiations with the city and county.
A statement from SMCISD was sent to the Record in response to Becerra’s post.
“The decision to cease negotiations on the proposed property acquisition on South LBJ Drive was not a rejection of collaboration with the City of San Marcos or Hays County, nor a dismissal of the cultural, historical, or community significance of the surrounding neighborhood. San Marcos CISD remains open to future collaboration and partnership opportunities that serve the best interests of students, families, and the broader San Marcos community.”
Becerra sent a letter announcing the desire to negotiate a bid for the land on Sept.8.
In the Jan. 5 agenda prep meeting SMCISD board member Clementine Cantu brought up concern that the district spent $21,000 in legal fees on the failed negotiations.
“I don’t know what the other board members feel, that’s just my own opinion that we spent a lot of money for something that didn’t happen,” Cantu said. “That’s a lot of money that could have gone into academics.”
Board member Miguel Arredondo claimed his frustration with the back and forth negotiations was that there was no official offer from the city or county.
Board President Anne Halsey added insight to the sale process.
“I think that the board in making the many difficult decisions that we had to make last spring during this process had to take account of every possible dollar, so that was the idea that we were putting everything on the table and we were looking at every expense. That was the spirit in which we looked at the market for that property,” Halsey said. “The board did not approach any other entity and ask them to help us or bail us out.”
The land is owned by SMCISD, who have it posted for sale and are accepting bids. The land is adjacent to Centro, which functions as a community and education center. Built in 1948 as the original ‘Mexican School’, the building, which hosts Centro, has historical significance and gained it the title of a Texas Historical Site. The property, which houses the school building, was donated by SMCISD in 2022 to the nonprofit, which now runs the cultural center.
Daily Record Photo by John Clark
