Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos could end up owning the former school building it calls home after the San Marcos CISD board of trustees’s meeting Monday night.
The board is set to discuss a resolution authorizing the donation of the “real property and improvements (Bonham campus) to the Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos.” The resolution would also direct the board’s president to execute a deed transferring ownership of the campus to the cultural center, the board’s agenda for Monday reads.
According to the agenda, the resolution also states that “(1) the Bonham campus has historical significance, (2) the transfer of the Bonham campus to Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos will further preserve the campus, (3) the school district no longer needs the Bonham campus for educational purposes, and (4) Centro Cultural Hispano has shown it intends to continue to use the Bonham campus for public purpose.”
Centro opened in 2010 with the mission to “serve as a community beacon for the preservation, development, promotion, and celebration of the Hispanic arts, culture, heritage, and values.” The facility hosts community meetings, educational events, celebrations and other events, besides offering a library, art gallery and cultural museum. Centro has been leasing the old Bonham campus from SMCISD; in 2017, the SMCISD board of trustees approved a 25-year lease with Centro for the former school building.
According to the SMCISD board agenda, the deed transferring ownership of the property would provide that ownership would revert to the school district if Centro stops using the property for a public purpose or executes paperwork to convey the property to another owner.
Although the board could take action on the resolution Monday night, there is another agenda item for discussion and possible action to hold a public hearing on the donation of the former Bonham campus to Centro and to publish a notice of the hearing announcing the location, date and time.
The board is also set to discuss and consider taking action regarding a proposed administration building, including the authorization to acquire architectural services to develop site plans.
The board will meet at 5 p.m. Monday in Classroom 11 at San Marcos High School, 2601 Rattler Road. SMCISD board meetings are also streamed online.
