Saratoga News

Moreland School District sells former site to Primary Plus

City once entertained idea that it might buy acreage

New owner paid $6 million

By Sarah Lombardo

Almost five acres of prime real estate located at 18720 Bucknall Road in Saratoga will remain a school site.

Primary Plus Inc.--which has operated an infant center, preschool and private elementary classes on the property for about 14 years--announced May 20 that it has purchased the El Quito School site from the Moreland School District. About 450 students attend Primary Plus each year.

Moreland District Superintendent Jim Ritchie said Primary Plus paid the asking price of $6 million for the land.

"There was no discussion," he said. "We set a price and they met it."

The Moreland School District declared the site surplus property in January 1997, leading many neighboring Saratoga residents and the City Council to question if the land would be sold to developers.

The council briefly considered the idea of purchasing the land, possibly at a discount, in February 1997, but dismissed it in light of budget constraints.

The playground area of the school had been purchased previously by the city to create El Quito park.

Councilmember Jim Shaw was one of the most vocal supporters of the idea of purchasing the land and adding to El Quito Park. "I'm aghast at the idea of losing a golden opportunity to add square footage to El Quito," he told the council last year.

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