W-H officials sold school's land (Dem State Senator Linked to School Financial Scandal

WFAA News 8 ^ | Brett Shipp

[ArmyBratproud]

Wilmer-Hutchins ISD officials are having difficultly explaining why they sold a large chunk of an active school property.

The sale of Kennedy Curry Middle School, which sits on about 10 acres of South Dallas land near Interstate 20, took place last year in a transaction that was kept quiet until now.

On April 12, school board president Luther Edwards and board secretary Dortha Thomas signed off on the sale of 4.5 acres of that property. A quitclaim deed indicates the district received $4,700 for the property at 3501 Soft Wind.

Both Edwards and Thomas said they had no idea they were selling part of a school.

Buyer John DeJean said he actually paid $10,000 to the law office of the district's tax attorney, State Sen. Royce West. DeJean said he thought he was buying vacant property.

"We were able to buy those properties without going through any type of auction," DeJean said. "It's difficult to tell because we don't have a precise survey, but according to appraisal district records it looks like two-thirds of the cafeteria has been sold, and possibly three to four feet of the southern wing of the Kennedy Curry Middle School."

When asked why he paid for land before doing a survey and a title search, DeJean blamed the school district and said they told him the land was "free and clear."

"Our faith was in the Wilmer-Hutchins School District," DeJean said. "Our faith was in their attorneys."

Royce West told News 8 he has no knowledge of the transaction, and deferred questions to one of his attorneys, Craig Capua.

"I have not seen any title information," Capua said. "I have not seen any survey to determine if there is any boundary discrepancy or not."

But according to a land survey done last May, the sale clearly involved the school building, and indicated it was brought to the attention of Royce and the owner John.

Neither the school principal nor interim superintendent Jim Damm responded to News 8's questions. But Dejean said he wants more answers - and may even file suit against the district to get them.

[ArmyBratproud]

Buyer John DeJean said he actually paid $10,000 to the law office of the district's tax attorney, State Sen. Royce West. DeJean said he thought he was buying vacant property.

[ArmyBratproud]

Ping.

Texas Dem. State Sen. Royce West Alert.

[ArmyBratproud]

"... but according to appraisal district records it looks like two-thirds of the cafeteria has been sold, and possibly three to four feet of the southern wing of the Kennedy Curry Middle School."

[TexasTaysor]

There is a discrepancy in amount of money as well as boundaries? No one buys property without survey and plat info, etc.....how stupid are these people. If the school says they sold it for $4,700.00 and buyer says he paid $10,000.00....where is the difference in money?

[mathluv]

Isn't he one of the dims who left the state over redistricting?

[Publius6961]

On April 12, school board president Luther Edwards and board secretary Dortha Thomas signed off on the sale of 4.5 acres of that property. A quitclaim deed indicates the district received $4,700 for the property at 3501 Soft Wind.

Both Edwards and Thomas said they had no idea they were selling part of a school.

Something smells to high heaven here, being familiar with lan values and School District administration I can say without fear of contradiction that somehow, somewhere along the line something illegal has taken place.

First of all, the price of the parcel, in any developed city in the country is absurdly low.Second, to be "unaware" sounds frightfully like hilary and the first rapists during their travails...

It is either monumental incompetence or criminal intent to claim to be "unaware", that it is school property.

[ArmyBratproud]

I think so.

I saw ole Jim down in Waco over the holidays.

He is the one who organized one of those coward runs.

A guy who was with us walked up to him and ask if he could have some of his tax dollars back.....since he did not support funding gutless vacations.

Jim did not seem to find it as funny as we did.

[newgeezer]

Added TX to the TOPICS list for our FRiends who have Texas news in the sidebar.

[ArmyBratproud]

This is just the latest of problems with Wilmer Hutchins school district.

They have been under investigation for a while.

They are in the news every week up here in the metromess.
Each week they find some other crooked deal that had been going on.

They are now, as a result, being run by an interim Super Int. and an outside source.


BUT NOW ROYCE WEST IS INVOLVED......HE TRIED TO LIE AND SAY HE DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT....BUT TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE ARTICLE....IT SHOWS DIFFERENT.

[ArmyBratproud]

Thanks, I forgot to do that.

[Cowboy Bob]

The sale of Kennedy Curry Middle School, which sits on about 10 acres of South Dallas land near Interstate 20, took place last year in a transaction that was kept quiet until now.

Interesting that the sale took place last year, and it was for a piece of a cafeteria (and not vacant land), and yet the buyer never complained.

[ArmyBratproud]

Royce West is now trying to dodge all reporters on the issue.

I have Best Lil Whorehouse in Texas on video.

Last night I taped the New 8 segment where they talk about Royce West.

I would like edit the part from the movie where Charles Durning (plays the role of Gov.) is singing about dancing a "little side step...and lead the people on" and mix it with any comments from Royce West.

[ArmyBratproud]

When the aired the segment last night...the buyer says they operated on good faith with West's law firm, which was responsible for selling the land.

There was no auction or anything. It was a buy on blue print sort of deal.

What's really crazy...is on the segment on Channel 8...they showed the land next to the building as well...that was listed in the sale.

IT LOOKED LIKE THE P.E. FIELDS!

It's no shock that this was kept quiet.
One of the schools in the Wilmer Hutchins district had to open late this year...BECAUSE RAIN KEPT POURING IN THROUGH HOLES IN THE ROOF!!!

Even though money had been allocated to fix it.

Then there was the issue of school computers being stolen and sold.

It's a big mess, and state and federal types are looking into it all.

Those poor kids, they are getting screwed around.

[Redbob]

"........how stupid are these people. ..."

Do you really have to ask?
This IS the Wilmer-Hutchins school district.

[Smartaleck]

Wonder if John Wiley Price and Al Lipscomb can be far behind?

[ArmyBratproud]

"Wonder if John Wiley Price and Al Lipscomb can be far behind?"

It would not shock anybody.

I can't help but think of Charles D's song in Best Lil Whorehouse in Texas when I think of thos guys.

The whole song is about political double talk, which they are real good at.

"...I like to dance a little side step,
now you see me, now you don't, I've come and gone...

...I like to sweep around the white step,
cut a little swat and lead the people on"


What worries me, if we don't keep the Governorship in Republican hands.....we'll be hearing that little diddy a lot!

[ArmyBratproud]

Some of those administrators from that district need to do time.

Every week there is more news about crooked dealings there.

Heck, Laura Miller could not mess up that bad.

[Smartaleck]

"we'll be hearing that little diddy a lot!"

I live in Denton cnty. north of Dallas, one of the staunchest of Republican cnty's and have to wonder about the whole bunch we've sent to Austin.

Too much talk of raising taxes or better yet, disguising it as "fee adjustments" etc.

[Calpernia]

Meekie, I think this needs a good Texas ping.

Thanks.

[MeekOneGOP]

Wilmer-Hutchins School District scandal .....

W-H officials sold school's land (Dem State
Senator Linked to School Financial Scandal)

Excerpt:

Wilmer-Hutchins ISD officials are having difficultly explaining why they sold a large chunk of an active school property.

The sale of Kennedy Curry Middle School, which sits on about 10 acres of South Dallas land near Interstate 20, took place last year in a transaction that was kept quiet until now.

On April 12, school board president Luther Edwards and board secretary Dortha Thomas signed off on the sale of 4.5 acres of that property. A quitclaim deed indicates the district received $4,700 for the property at 3501 Soft Wind.

Both Edwards and Thomas said they had no idea they were selling part of a school.

Buyer John DeJean said he actually paid $10,000 to the law office of the district's tax attorney, State Sen. Royce West. DeJean said he thought he was buying vacant property.

"We were able to buy those properties without going through any type of auction," DeJean said. "It's difficult to tell because we don't have a precise survey, but according to appraisal district records it looks like two-thirds of the cafeteria has been sold, and possibly three to four feet of the southern wing of the Kennedy Curry Middle School."

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