This story produced for our advanced reporting class examined a controversial school board land deal and the actions of two real estate brokers at the center of the deal. Confidential records indicated the brokers worked to increase the price of the land to county taxpayers – and increasing their commission on the sale – despite ostensibly working under contract for the school board. Our investigation showed that the brokers had a prior business relationship with the seller. Our reporting also raised questions about the school board’s process for awarding lucrative contracts, its competency in evaluating complex real estate deals and the lack of independent oversight.
