DALLAS – For as often as the Dallas Independent School District holds meetings at the Infomart on Stemmons Freeway, it appears it too could be a campus.

Four out of five days this week, DISD has rented space inside for a coaches and special education training. Last Friday, 300 principals met there for what the district termed “Professional Development.”

At a time when the district is laying off employees over an $84-million deficit, all three events cost the district several thousand dollars in rental fees.

"The commitments are made months in advance, so the contract had already been signed and they had probably already been paid," said Jon Dahlander, a DISD spokesperson.

But that is not necessarily true.

News 8 has learned the Dallas school district is still trying to rent an off-campus facility for a four-day “Dallas Achieves” conference in November. An estimated 400 people would attend the event.

The Infomart isn't available on the dates DISD needs.

News 8 discovered the World Trade Center, right next door, is apparently an option the district is now considering.

"I'm not involved in those discussions, but I would imagine that given the situation we're in right now that we're looking at our own facilities first," Dahlander said.

News 8 took a look into the availability of DISD-owned properties.

While the district rented the Infomart Thursday, News 8 cameras found the new Field House at the Jesse Owens Memorial Complex vacant. Bond money built the facility, which seats up to 7,500, three years ago. However, it sat unused Thursday.

The find frustrated teachers. At least 675 teachers will likely be laid off when the board meets Thursday afternoon regarding the deficit.

"They should find space available in the buildings the district owns and not be paying out that kind of money because that means supplies for students that it could be used for, and it means a salary for someone,” said Rena Honea, second vice president for Alliance AFT, which represents 9,000 DISD teachers.

Critic Allen Gwinn said he agrees.

"Everybody up and down the district needs to be sensitive that every dollar they spend doing this kind of thing, every dollar they spend is a dollar less for teachers," he said.

While DISD said it is scheduling more meetings in its own buildings now, those losing their job wonder why the district hasn't been thriftier.

E-mail jwhitely@wfaa.com