Jun. 18--The Arlington school district is suing Carrizo Oil & Gas, claiming that the district wasn't paid for $2.9 million in gas lease bonuses the company agreed to in November.

The lawsuit was filed May 21 in state district court in Tarrant County. It's on the agenda for tonight's school board meeting.

Heather Castillo, the school district's attorney, said it was on the agenda "so that we can discuss the case and take appropriate action if there is any to be taken."

A message left for a Carrizo representative Wednesday afternoon was not returned.

According to the filing, the district invited gas companies to bid for leases on two groups of properties in March 2008. They included several north Arlington elementary schools, Nichols Junior High and Lamar High School.

Carrizo offered to pay the royalty payments of 25 percent on the properties and an $18,000-per-acre lease bonus, according to the suit. The district signed leases with the company in November, the lawsuit said.

The school district filing says Carrizo breached the agreements by not paying the bonuses within 45 days.

Arlington officials have placed their gas lease and royalty bonus money into an account that stands at almost $18.3 million.

Trustees have not determined how the money will be spent.

-- Traci Shurley

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