School property sold to Agoura Hills
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

SOLID GROUND—With construction on Yerba Buena Elementary School nearing completion, the school district has sold 18.3 acres just east (left) of the campus to the city of Agoura Hills.

The city of Agoura Hills approved a $1.6 million land purchase from the Las Virgenes Unified School District last week and announced plans to use the 18.3acre site as a park and future “outdoor classroom.”

The property is east of the new Yerba Buena Elementary School site, adjacent to Lindero Creek.

Nathan Hamburger, assistant to the city manager, said designated areas will be used for public recreational trails, but council members and school officials hope the land will eventually be used by teachers as an “outdoor classroom” for science and environmental lessons. The park will be especially convenient for Yerba Buena students, and an easement for ingress and egress to the school was included in the agreement. The school is scheduled to open in March.

“This is the kind of thing we get elected for,” said Agoura Hills Mayor Dan Kuperberg. “I couldn’t be happier we’re doing this. It’s a great addition to the community.”

School board members approved the sale at their Nov. 21 meeting. Deputy superintendent Donald Zimring said the sale was the culmination of several years of work by both agencies.

“I think it is testimony to the collaboration that can occur and good public policy when agencies are able to get together and work for the common good,” Zimring said. The land would be used as a “passive park,” but future joint activities between the city and school district were possible, he said.

Diane McKay, interim president of the Conejo and Las Virgenes Boys & Girls Club, said she hopes the land can also be used for a new club site within the Las Virgenes area. McKay applied for a $150,000 grant from the state for each Las Virgenes middle school although a club site has yet to be determined.

“Our hope is that we can come together with both public agencies and find a location to serve these kids, and if we’re lucky enough to get this funding . . . that we can find a location to serve these kids with some quality programs,” McKay said.

School officials have been working to bring a Boys & Girls Club to the Las Virgenes district and are considering several locations including A.E. Wright Middle School.

Now that Agoura Hills owns the land, McKay must present a proposal to the Agoura Hills City Council for a Boys & Girls Club on the site.