SIMI VALLEY : School Leases OKd for Roller Hockey

Two businesses will be allowed to lease public school property in Simi Valley for roller hockey leagues aimed at both children and adults, provided that they purchase enough liability insurance.

The Simi Valley Unified School District last week approved plans to lease outdoor courts to Encore Sports, a new sports equipment store in Simi Valley, and Hockey on Wheels, a Tarzana business specializing in organizing hockey leagues and camps.

“People are already (playing roller hockey) on school grounds today, but without the proper equipment, supervision and without coaching,” Encore Sports owner Ned Collins told board members Tuesday night.

In addition to general-liability insurance, the businesses will be required to purchase a $300,000 fire liability policy, school board members said. Hockey on Wheels was covered for $50,000 in fire liability under a policy through National Inline Skating Assn.

Obtaining the higher amount of fire insurance is not expected to be a problem, spokesmen for both businesses said Thursday. Both leagues are expected to start in early October.

The business owners plan to make improvements to the spaces they will lease in exchange for lower than market hourly rental rates, officials said.

Encore Sports will resurface the basketball and volleyball courts at Valley View Junior High School, and Hockey on Wheels will repair unused. concrete tennis courts at Royal High School.