|
The decision on the fate of the Peterson Middle School athletic fields—25 acres of open space worth almost $3 million an acre—has been delayed until after the November elections. The Santa Clara Unified School District is waiting to learn the fate of the $315 million school improvement bond on the ballot.
Roger Barnes, business administrator for the SCUSD, said the bond passing would change the district's options for the fields because if it gets the money, some of the improvements could lead to more uses for the space or partnerships with local organizations to help support the fields.
"Right now we're trying to decide how much land the school actually needs and then figure out what we're going to use the land for," Barnes said.
The school district says the school has too much space and cannot support all the maintenance needed. The school, community sports leagues and outside groups all use the fields in a normal week.
Barnes said the school district has come up with a fact sheet on the fields, their
various uses and the laws regulating use of the space.
The school board will not look at its next actions until it knows the bond situation. Barnes also hopes the fact sheet will quell rumors that began circulating through the community, many of which involve the school board selling the land to private developers to build housing.
Barnes reiterated that while selling the land is one option, it is not the only one. He said the district is hoping to enter into a partnership with local youth leagues to take care of the land, whether it is being used for school games or weekend tournaments.
The next school board meetings after the election are Nov. 11 and Nov. 23, so Barnes said those are the closest dates any decision on the property could be made. The board and Sunnyvale City Council have to approve any decisions made then.
|
