MOORPARK : Court Hears Case on School Site Purchase

The state Supreme Court heard arguments this week in the case between the Moorpark Unified School District and the city of Moorpark over the purchase of the former site of Moorpark Memorial High School.

The court will issue a decision within 90 days on the more than 2-year-old case, which has attracted attention from cities and school districts statewide, Supreme Court spokeswoman Diane McHenry said.

The Supreme Court will decide whether to uphold a ruling by the state Court of Appeal saying that a state law called the Naylor Act requires the school district to sell a portion of the downtown site to the city for 25% of the property’s market value.

Previously, the Ventura County Superior Court also ruled in the city’s favor.

The Naylor Act entitles public agencies to buy up to 30% of unused school district property for 25% of market value.

The case is viewed as a legal challenge to the Naylor Act.

The city and school district have continued to negotiate over a price for seven acres of the site that the city wants for a downtown park. The city has offered the district about $300,000 for the property, while the district has asked for $700,000.

The case represents the first time the Supreme Court has considered the Naylor Act.

At least 40 cities statewide signed an amicus curiae, or friend-of-the-court, brief supporting Moorpark’s position in the case, Assistant City Atty. Virginia Pesola said.

The Orange County school district filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Moorpark school district, said Robert Mason, the Moorpark school district’s attorney.