Austin ISD trustees approve sale authorization for former Brook site after split 4–3 vote

The Austin ISD Board of Trustees on Thursday authorized the superintendent to negotiate and execute a contract to sell the former Brook (Brookside) site after a 4–3 vote following extended public comment and trustee discussion.

Several neighbors and callers urged the board to postpone action, saying they had not been sufficiently consulted and expressing concern about potential zoning changes and demolition. "We're not ready to sell. We're not ready to demolish our building," Bertha Delgado told trustees during public testimony.

Trustees debated a substitute motion to postpone the vote to the February meeting. Trustee De Urducea moved to postpone and Trustee Hunter seconded; trustees said they wanted more time for community engagement and for absent trustees to participate. The substitute motion failed on a 3–4 vote. The board then voted to approve item 11.6 as presented, with the chair announcing the motion carried 4–3.

Superintendent Segura explained the district’s fiscal rationale for pursuing some property transactions this fiscal year: the district included expected real-estate receipts in its budget and delaying a sale would reduce projected fund balance and potentially require deeper cuts to close the fiscal-year gap. "If we do not close by the end of the fiscal year, then the value of this opportunity for a cash injection would be netted out of our budget," Segura said.

Trustees and the superintendent said they will continue negotiating terms responsive to community feedback and that any final sale agreement will return to the full board for approval. Several trustees asked administration to include clearer preview materials on future sales so neighborhoods can review proposals before votes.

What’s next: the administration will continue negotiations with the potential partner, consider community requests, and return a final sale agreement to the board for approval.