Plan to Lease Shut School Advances
A community committee has given its support to Ocean View School District’s proposal to lease the closed Rancho View Elementary School site for commercial development.
The committee of 10 parents and one teacher reported that reopening the school was not a viable option based on its location and condition, and that the district has enough other space to accommodate projected enrollment growth. Besides Rancho View, the district has seven other closed schools.
Supt. James R. Tarwater said the committee’s report is the first step toward leasing the land, near Beach Boulevard and Warner Avenue.
Officials said they expect to gain about $55 million from a long-term lease of the former Crest View school site for commercial development when the transaction is finalized.
“That kind of income stream really helps the district,” Tarwater said.
Most of the schools in the district are about 30 years old and need new roofs, asphalt and air-conditioning, he said.
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