LOS ALAMITOS : Weaver School Sale Possibly Averted

Weaver Elementary School, which the Los Alamitos Unified School district plans to sell to finance the opening of a middle school, may yet be saved, if the city buys another school district property, which is for sale.

District officials said last week that they have offered the 4.5-acre Laurel Park site to the city for about $3.1 million, the amount necessary to open Oak Middle School in September.

But while council members said they would be delighted to buy Laurel Park, currently leased to the city for $1 a year, it would be difficult to craft a financing package, in part because of the county bankruptcy, which has affected the city’s finances and ability to borrow money.

“There are so many unanswered questions,” said Councilwoman Alice Jempsa. “We should look at this proposal carefully, one step at a time.”

Trustees said city officials must respond “within a month,” because the school board must decide on a financing plan by the end of February if Oak School were to open next school year.

The school board decided last year to sell the 9.1-acre Weaver site, which was closed as an elementary school in 1983, for more than $8 million, part of which will be used to renovate and operate Oak.

But a group of parents opposed the sale, contending that the site may be needed in the future as district enrollment grows.

They proposed that the district sell Laurel Park and part of Jefferson School, convert Weaver School to a day-care center and form a foundation to raise money for school programs.

Trustees halted negotiations with developers interested in buying Weaver, but they said that selling Weaver must remain an option.

Oak School was closed in 1986 but must be reopened because of overcrowding at the school district’s only middle school, McAuliffe Middle School, officials said.

“I’m pleased that they listened to us,” said David Walker, one of the community leaders against the sale of Weaver. “At least, they are looking at alternatives.”