School Officials Delay Decision on Land Sale

After hearing impassioned pleas from residents, trustees of Newport-Mesa Unified School District this week postponed a decision on whether to sell 18 acres of farmland surrounding Costa Mesa High School.

Dozens of parents, neighbors and Costa Mesa High students reiterated their theme: Once the property is gone, it is gone.

For more than a year, the school district has been negotiating with the city of Costa Mesa to turn the land into an athletic complex, including a football field with a track, soccer fields and basketball courts.

Some people were furious when the district scrapped those plans earlier this month.

“Facilities must be available in the neighborhoods,” said resident Susan Klein, pointing out that Costa Mesa has very few parks relative to the number of homes. “Teenagers especially need activities to keep them out of trouble.”

Supt. Mac Bernd said last week that he favors selling the farmland to a housing developer to help the district pay for maintenance at schools. According to the district’s estimates, schools in Newport-Mesa need $15 million worth of repairs.

“That is not for luxuries. It is not for new equipment. It is to pay for roofs that leak,” Bernd said. “I have seen the conditions at our schools, and I want them to be better.”

Several board members said at Tuesday’s meeting, however, that they want to study the issue further and explore alternatives to raise money for maintenance before taking action on the proposal to sell the farm.