Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Board set to ignore objections to school near airport
The Ventura County (CA) Star
Despite objections and safety concerns of county transportation officials, the Oxnard School board is scheduled to approve the purchase of land for a new school near the city’s airport when it meets at 7 tonight. If approved, the decision will override a ruling from the Airport Land Use Commission saying a school is an unacceptable use for land near the airport.
The proposed site lies on the south side of Fifth Street between Patterson Road and Victoria Avenue. The land is within the airport’s traffic pattern zone, where planes and an estimated 10 to 20 helicopters whoosh overhead each day at 400 to 500 feet.
The school district has ultimate say on where it builds. Its pitch for a campus is backed by the California Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics. A positive review from the division is needed to receive state money for the school.
More schools are needed in the growing city, where K-8 campuses operate year-round to accommodate 16,000-plus elementary students. The district is five schools short of moving to a traditional year with summer breaks.
Tonight’s meeting takes place at school district headquarters, 1051 South A St., Oxnard.
