OXNARD : Builder Won’t Have to Fund School Lab

The Oxnard Union High School District withdrew a demand that a mall developer pay the district about $250,000 more than is dictated by state law to compensate for additional students, administrators said Monday.

The district had threatened to sue the developer over whether the district had the right to demand the extra fees, but announced Monday that it would not pursue the matter.

“We have determined that the basis for our proposed (legal) challenge has not been tested in the courts and that pursuing it may not be in the best interest of the district,” said Supt. Bill Studt. “We have also decided to withdraw our demand for (fees), other than what is required.”

The district was pressing Camarillo Factory Outlet Stores developer Chelsea GCA for about $250,000 worth of computer equipment as a way of offsetting the costs of an estimated 30 new students that the development would bring to the district.

But the Newport Beach developer said that it thought the district’s request was too much and that they would pay only the state-mandated $30,000. The developer later increased that amount to $75,000 in an attempt to end the conflict. But shortly after the offer was made, the district demanded nearly $250,000, in addition to the required $30,000, from Chelsea to pay for a student computer lab.

The latter request effectively ended negotiations and began an impasse that lasted until Monday’s announcement.

“We are very pleased that the district has reached the conclusion that we drew,” said Steven L. Craig, president and chief executive of Chelsea GCA. “We harbor no ill will toward the district and look forward to working with them, as we do with all members of the communities where we do business.”

Under the terms of the state School Facilities Act, developers are required to pay school districts $2.65 per square foot of the homes they build and 27 cents per square foot of commercial and industrial projects to compensate for extra students.

The project will break ground June 22, officials said.