OXNARD : Recovery of School Funds Uncertain

Oxnard High School District officials said Friday they do not believe the state will reimburse the district for the $9 million it has committed toward the purchase of land for a new high school.

Although the state Allocation Board is scheduled to consider the reimbursement issue at its Aug. 26 meeting, the district’s chances of receiving money for the new campus are slim to none, said acting Supt. William G. Studt. The board allocates money generated from voter-approved bond measures to school districts for construction and renovation projects.

“We don’t believe it will be funded,” Studt said of the district’s land acquisition. “It’s so far down the list in terms of priorities, it’s not very feasible.”

Earlier this year, the district initiated condemnation proceedings to acquire a 53-acre parcel at the northeast end of the city for a new high school campus. The district deposited $9 million in a county treasurer’s account to secure the condemnation.

The district later dropped its plans to buy the land after voters in April rejected a $45-million bond measure that was to be used to build the new school.

But before the district could fully abandon the condemnation proceedings, the owners of the property withdrew the money the district had put up for the land. As a result, the ownership of the land is now “in legal limbo,” Studt said.

The district is seeking a court order to recover its money. If it is unable to do so, the district may decide to complete condemnation proceedings and sell the property to recoup its losses, Studt said.