Update: On Dec. 13, 2007, San Antonio City Council voted to support Southwest Research Institute's bid for land at 600 Callaghan, a site that Northside ISD wanted for an alternative school, community education center, and bus transportation center.
Here is Superintendent John Folks' reaction:
"NISD is of course disappointed that we will not receive the Army Reserve Center at 600 Callaghan but we continue to support the Southwest Research Institute, a fine institution which is a Northside ISD neighbor and great supporter.
"I appreciate the efforts of City Manager Sculley and Deputy City Manager DiGiovanni who are working with us to find an alternative site that could possibly be used for some of the purposes we outlined in our proposal.
"We can appreciate the City Council's difficult position of having to choose between two fine institutions. We look forward to working with the City on solutions to the growth issues in NISD."
Northside ISD Superintendent John Folks and Board President Katie Reed made an appeal Thursday night to San Antonio City Council members to help the District establish the Northside Learning and Transportation Center.
Northside is one of two applicants asking to acquire the U.S. Army Reserve Center at 600 Callaghan Road. The 5-acre site is being closed through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process and is being made available to entities who propose projects that will have a positive impact on economic development and will enhance the surrounding neighborhood.
Northside is proposing to use an existing multi-use building on the Callaghan Road site for the District's Alternative High School, which is currently operating in 14 portable classrooms and has run out of room for expansion. The Alternative High School is geared for students with disciplinary problems and keeps them in school by serving as an alternative to expulsion.
The existing building also would be used for a community center that would offer literacy programs, GED classes, parenting classes, workforce training, and other adult and community education programs.
Another portion of the Callaghan Road site has an existing heavy duty parking lot that would be used for Northside's fifth bus depot. The District needs an additional transportation center to accommodate growth and to reduce fuel costs by transporting neighborhood children to neighborhood schools.
Last month, an evaluation committee of city staff members recommended that the other applicant for the site, Southwest Research Institute, should acquire the property.
The City Council will have the final vote Dec. 13.
However, before the vote, a public hearing was held in City Council chambers.
"With all due respect, the staff recommendation was wrong," Superintendent John Folks said. "The scores assigned to Northside are not an honest representation of the District's quality or its ability to turn the Callaghan Road U.S. Army Reserve Center into a vibrant focal point of the neighborhood that will enrich the lives of this city's residents."
