HUNTINGTON BEACH : Panel Will Study Renovation Needs

Trustees from the Ocean View School District have moved to set up an advisory committee to propose new ways to renovate school facilities and grounds.

The Board of Trustees proposed the panel in the wake of its aborted attempt to impose a property fee to pay for school repairs and maintenance. Trustees from Ocean View and three neighboring school districts repealed that assessment under widespread public pressure. The Huntington Beach City, Huntington Beach Union High and Westminster school districts are also establishing advisory panels in search of alternatives to the property fee.

Ocean View’s panel will be similar to one recently established in the Huntington Beach City School District. It will include representatives from 10 youth organizations who use baseball diamonds, soccer fields and other school facilities in need of repair.

The committee also will include officials from the Huntington Beach Community Services Department, the local board of realtors and chamber of commerce, district employees unions, a senior citizens’ group and the nonprofit group recently created to raise money for the district.