By Torre Peña
On March 5, the Saratoga City Council will consider the feasibility of purchasing 4.5 acres of land that is home to the El Quito Elementary School, on Bucknall Avenue adjacent to El Quito Park.
The campus falls within the city boundaries of Saratoga but is part of the Moreland School District, which has informed the city of Saratoga that it plans to sell the school.
"They must offer the property to public agencies first," said City Manager Harry Peacock. "We have 60 days to respond."
Moreland satisfied state law by notifying the city on Jan. 10 of its intention to sell the property. The council has until March 11 to make a decision. If the council takes no action, the city could still acquire the property in the future, said City Attorney Michael Riback.
Councilmember Jim Shaw stressed that the property has value as a school or as an addition to open space. "I'm aghast at the idea of losing a golden opportunity to add square footage to El Quito [Park]," he said at the Feb. 5 council meeting.
If Saratoga's enrollment continues to swell as projections indicate, the school could potentially ease overcrowding if incorporated into Saratoga's district.
An initial figure of $6 to $9 million has been suggested for the property, but the city is considering an appraisal of the property to determine its market value. In the midst of deep budget cuts, money remains a formidable obstacle for the city.
"I don't see how the city can possibly find the money; it would have to go to an election," said councilmember Paul Jacobs.
City Attorney Michael Riback is researching the Naylor Act in California's Education Code to determine if the property would be available to the city at a significant discount. The Naylor Act allows cities and counties to acquire surplus school properties for recreation purposes.
Tom Shannon, Moreland's property consultant, asserted that the school does not fall under the confines of the Naylor Act.
The Moreland School District could also decide not to sell the property, he added.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, February 12, 1997.
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