Public records show school system feels ripped off by land broker

By Jennifer Peebles | Thursday, November 20th, 2008

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has used the state’s Public Information Act to show that a local school system is accusing its own former real-estate broker of buying up land for a school site and then reselling it to the school system — at a profit of $621,500.

The FBI is involved in probing the dealings of broker Bruce Baucum and the 135-acre piece of land bought by the Northwest Independent School District, the Star-Telegram says. The newspaper used the state open records law to obtain a copy of the letter Northwest sent to Patterson’s firm, demanding it repay the $621,500.

The district dissolved its relationship with Baucum and (his boss, Steven) Patterson last month and in an Oct. 30 letter asked the firm to pay the district $621,500 within 10 days, according to records obtained by the Star-Telegram under the Texas Public Information Act. The company, which said it has done nothing wrong, has not paid.

Patterson’s attorney met with Northwest officials Wednesday. Patterson said that Northwest paid a fair price for the land and that school officials aren’t getting the full picture.

You can see the letter itself at this link.

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