Sure, Buying a Dallas ISD Portable for Cheap Seems Like a Good Idea Till You Try to Move It

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., Jun. 20 2011 at 2:50 PM

This portable is at Charles Gill Elementary on Ferguson

No doubt, Dallas PD's million-dollar helicopter is the big-ticket item over on Lone Star Auctions -- bigger, certainly, than the donkeys, mules and potbelly pigs being sold off by Dallas County. (I'm gonna call this one "Groucho.") But I see the Dallas Independent School District's selling off dozen of portables -- the first time I can recall such a massive sell-off of the temporary school rooms.

The district's been adding them in batches over the last few weeks -- which reminded me of Ecological Community Builders's Zac Lytle and his plan to repurpose the portables as new homes in low-income neighborhoods. I also recall DISD spokesman Jon Dahlander saying "there are plenty of issues when it comes to moving them," like their weight and in-the-way power lines, for starters. Which may be why there are no takers so far. Not for any of 'em, even at the low, low price of $500.

Lytle says he's still hoping to give those portables a second life, even with the myriad issues involved in moving and abating the temp buildings. "We're doing all right," he said this afternoon when I asked for an update. And, yeah, he's keeping an eye on the bidding ... or lack thereof. "I doubt they'll see very many," he says, referring to the height, weight and likelihood of asbestos in the portables. And most of the portables, which come from all over the district, ain't in the best shape if you look at all the offerings on the auctioneer's website.

Stilll. DISD could sure use the dough -- gotta pay for those "extras" somehow, and Thursday the board will approve that budget.

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Iknow

Some schools have over 15 portables and have been there for years. Building new schools and changing attendance zones would help remove some of these buildings. They are unattractive and probably not up to code. Administrators choose to keep old buildings as long as possible to avoid having to replace them.

Sammy

Logically they must also be difficult to move on to the campus as well. If the district would just change a few attendance zones they could eliminate the need for many of these. For instance Madison, Roosevelt and even Lincoln are much under capacity while neighboring schools are over capacity.

StopDISD.org

We agree with you Sammy this a great idea and solution. It would save tax dollars. But, how can we get DISD to listen? O.M. Roberts Elementary in under capacity not over capacity so, they are going to demolish the school after millions in renovations and build a brand new 22 million dollar 800 student capacity school. 3 surrounding schools will close their doors and pre-k - 5th graders will be bussed over. This is dangerous for the little ones. To learn more about DISD wasteful spending visit: www.StopDISD.org or StopDISD on Facebook.

Sammy

Which surrounding schools will be closed? That also brings up the question of where Roberts kids will go for middle school - I think it's split right now.

StopDISD.org

Sorry for the delay in response Sammy. DISD refuses to provide us with any further information. So, we don't know what schools will close at this time.

We requested an open records report so, DISD involved the Attorney General to prevent us from viewing it. We keep asking questions and they keep forwarding us to Tito Ramirez their Eminent Domain attorney and he calmly explains (with a smile on his face) he knows nothing.

It's been a very frustrating process and while we search for answers DISD proceeds with demolishing the newly renovated school and surrounding community for this mega elementary school. What a waste of tax dollars.

Guest

I like the idea that the district bought a bunch of portable buildings that are supposedly designed to be moved where they're needed but that are too heavy and bulky to easily move.

DISD Teacher

Classic DISD.Imagine trying to protect the kids you teach from these geniuses.

I bet a tornado could move the HELL out of those portables. And they frequently have wiring "mini-fires". Unbelievably unsafe.

But as long as Yvonne, Claudia, and friends get to spend the night at nice Dallas hotels about a mile or so from their actual homes, I feel better.

After all, who cares about a bunch of poor, minority kids?LULAC? Not seeing it.

How much would it cost to transport them? They need to be giving them away.

NewsDog

How old are these 'portables'? Hadn't the ban on asbestos in schools been in effect before most of these were put ip? Surely DISD wouldn't violate it's own policies on student safety just to save money and line a contractor's pocket?