Mediation settles lawsuit over Corte Madera School field (December 08, 2004)

** Lindsay Bowen to withdraw suit; school district to explore partnership for baseball field.

By Marjorie Mader

Almanac Staff Writer

Through mediation, the Portola Valley School District and youth baseball advocate Lindsay Bowen have reached a settlement agreement that would explore construction of a baseball field at Corte Madera School through a partnership between youth sports organizations, the town of Portola Valley and the district.

Mr. Bowen has agreed to a "non-monetary" settlement and will withdraw his lawsuit that he filed more than a year ago. He had claimed the school district "had destroyed rather than renovated" the baseball diamond at the district's grade 4-8 school, contrary to the purposes specified in the $6 million school bond measure, approved by 72.8 percent of the voters in 200l.

As part of the agreement, school board President Deborah Rappaport said in a published statement that the district "fully supports the community's efforts to provide a safe baseball diamond at Corte Madera School for recreational use and will dedicate a portion of the school property for this purpose.

"The school district welcomes the opportunity to work together with the Town of Portola Valley and youth sports organizations in exploring a community effort to bring a baseball diamond to Corte Madera," said Ms. Rappaport.

The settlement revives a proposal that was discussed several years ago to construct a baseball diamond by combining a portion of the school district property and a portion of the town's land off Alpine Road. A field would extend onto town land, lying between the curve on Alpine Road, and the school district property. If built, the outfield for the 90-foot field would share a portion of the school's new soccer field.

"We really want to be a good community partner so far as youth sports are concerned," said Superintendent Anne Campbell December 3. She also pointed out that the district's primary mission is "taking care of kids and their educational needs."

"The next step is up to the town and youth sports organizations," said Ms. Campbell.

Mr. Bowen, a property owner in the district, filed legal action against the district after trustees unanimously decided their highest priority was to use the school's limited field space as a multi-purpose field, primarily for the benefit of Corte Madera students instead of having a larger senior baseball field. The recently constructed field is used for the school's physical education classes, "Noon League," after-school sports, and recreation.

County counsel David Silberman represented the school district, and Joseph Bochner was Mr. Bowen's attorney.

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