SAN ANTONIO University of the Incarnate Word President Louis Agnese Jr. has said the university's lease agreement with the San Antonio Independent School District to locate UIW's proposed osteopathic medical school on Fox Tech High School's unused athletic fields should be signed by both parties in January.

In an interview earlier this month, Agnese said the philanthropic side of the equation is still in progress. He has estimated that $50 million will be needed to get the medical school up and running by 2016.

I've had great meetings with key people, he said of the effort to raise private donations. Have we gotten commitments yet? No. But do I feel good about it? Yes.

SAISD trustees received an update on the progress of the leasing agreement during closed session on Dec. 9, said district spokeswoman Leslie Price prior to the start of winter break. The board's next regular meeting is slated for Jan. 13.

All is well, said Price of the ongoing negotiations.

Agnese, who will start a sabbatical Jan. 13 to travel the world with his wife, said he intends to sign a version of the leasing agreement before he departs, which SAISD's board can ratify. He said he plans to return from his sabbatical in early June.

UIW's talks with SAISD have continued since last summer, and district Superintendent Sylvester Perez signed a nonbinding letter of intent in September outlining the terms of a deal for UIW to lease up to three acres at Fox Tech.

It takes time for the lawyers to get it all into the correct legalese that everybody's comfortable with, Agnese said.

According to the letter of intent, the deal will include funding from UIW to enhance SAISD's health career programs as well as other items, such as grants for SAISD students and faculty worth about $16.3 million during an initial 25-year lease.

Public sector funding also has come through for the project. In October, the City Council approved a $7.7 million funding agreement for infrastructure improvements and job incentives to help UIW create the medical school. Then in November, Bexar County commissioners followed suit, granting UIW $3 million over six years for economic development and job creation associated with the medical school.

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UIW looks ahead to leasing Fox Tech site