On Wednesday, June 6, the Walnut Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees unanimously accepted the highest bid and the bid ranking listing for the sale of Site D in Diamond Bar.

According to the district, the transaction will yield over $35 million for schools. The funds will go towards buildings and infrastructure.

“It’s exciting to think that after more than 20 years the property is finally being sold for the benefit of our children and staff,” said Board President Larry Redinger.

“These funds are so important to Walnut Valley,” said Superintendent Dr. Dean Conklin. “It will provide state-of-the-art technology infrastructure that will continue to allow our students to become 21st century learners.”

Site D is a 28.7 acre piece of land on the southeast side of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Brea Canyon Road owned by the WVUSD. Adjacent to the land is a .93 acre piece of property owned by the city of Diamond Bar, which will be sold along with Site D. The district authorized the sale in October 2011.

Before the board meeting, a three hour public bid hearing was held at the District Education Center, and the final purchase agreement from the public bid hearing was presented for approval at 7 p.m.

“All of the hard work in the preparation of this process culminates in what has taken place today,” said Conklin.

“We will look forward to our kids reaping the benefits in the near future,” Redinger said.

According to Conklin, the WVUSD will see the money after a maximum 14-month escrow, if all goes as planned.

“There are state rules and regulations from the sale of property and we will use it according to those laws,” Redinger said.

“It’s pretty profound that we’ve had this large parcel that was on the market, and we’ve gone through 22 years, and we’re finally there,” Conklin said.

Three Diamond Bar City Council members - Carol Herrera, Ron Everett, and Steve Tye - were also at the meeting to mark the sale.

In late May, Diamond Bar officials posted plans for the Site D Project for residents concerned over the development. The plan once included a commercial development, and now features 200 attached and/or detached homes and a neighborhood park to be constructed by the Site D developer and dedicated to the city, with access from within the project and from the surrounding community, according to city documents.