Comment Sought on Selling Former School

At a hearing Thursday, city officials will seek public comment on the future of Gisler School, a 15-acre site that has been closed since 1985.

Jerry Buchanan, assistant superintendent of administrative services for the Huntington Beach City School District, said officials want to sell the property, which has an estimated value of from $7.5 million to $12 million.

Buchanan said the district needs the money to pay for improvements at the eight schools now in operation. Most were built about 30 years ago.

Estimated costs for the district’s facility improvement needs are more than $10 million.

The closed school has been a drain on the district’s finances since 1986, officials said. Its design does not lend itself to other uses, so the district has not been able to lease it.

Also, Buchanan said, the annual cost to maintain the site is about $60,000.

Gisler School--at 21141 Strathmoor Lane, between Brookhurst and Bushard streets--was built in 1968. The surrounding area is zoned for single-family homes.

Buchanan said the site is now used for youth soccer and baseball programs.

“If the city were to buy the site, it could remain for recreation purposes,” he said. “If that’s not the case, we see it as a [site for] single-family residents.”

The hearing will be at 7 p.m. in the district board room, 20451 Craimer Lane.

Information: (714) 964-8888.