What started as a hobby for Pete Demyan has resulted in a treasure that even Scrooge McDuck himself might envy -- an original Carl Barks oil painting.

Barks, who died Aug. 25, 2000, drew Donald Duck and many of his relatives and friends for Walt Disney, including Scrooge McDuck, whom he created. He lived in San Jacinto from 1942 until the 1970s, during which time he painted a picture of the old San Jacinto High School.

Demyan, superintendent of the San Jacinto Unified School District and a comic book enthusiast, rediscovered the painting, which he hopes can be used to benefit students. He said the district is having the painting appraised.

"I have no idea what it's worth," he said, noting that a signed artist's (Barks) proof sold for $75,000 recently on the Internet.

The painting, however, may have more sentimental than monetary value.

Barks' longtime friend George Woods, who owned Chriswood Gallery in Temecula for many years, said nonduck paintings by Barks were never in demand, even when works by the cartoonist were drawing thousands of dollars.

"His wife, Gare, was more of the landscape artist," said Woods, who now lives in Hemet.

Woods contacted Barks' former agent, who agreed that non-Disney paintings have little monetary value.

According to Stephan Ortmann, a German exchange student at College of Charleston in South Carolina who maintains a Web site devoted to Barks, the painting, titled "Last Days at San Jacinto High," was commissioned by the class of 1967.

Demyan said he first noticed the painting hanging in the principal's office at San Jacinto High School, partially hidden by a collection of trophies, while touring schools in the district during his interview to become superintendent. Although he saw Barks' signature, he didn't realize until he was hired that Barks was the same artist who worked for Walt Disney.

"Uncle Scrooge is my passion," said Demyan, although his Scrooge lapel pin and Donald Duck tie already revealed his enthusiasm for Disney ducks.

"I started studying (Barks') signature and the evolution of his accent marks," Demyan said. In addition, he said, he spoke with a San Jacinto resident who collects Barks' work to authenticate the piece.

Comic books have been a part of Demyan's life since he was a young boy. He said his grandfather, who worked in a steel mill, would buy Demyan and his brother five comic books each payday.

"I used them to learn to read," he said.

Demyan started collecting comics in 1946 when he was 13 years old and became serious about his hobby in 1959. Eventually, he had a complete set of Superman comics, which he sold to purchase a house.

Demyan said the district is considering having the painting reproduced, possibly as note cards, with proceeds from card sales benefiting students. In addition, a committee has been formed to determine the best and safest way to display the painting.

According to Demyan, who also is a history buff, the 1968 painting of the school was created four or five years after everything but the bell tower, rock fence around the perimeter and large flower pots was demolished.

Demyan said Barks was critical of those who tore down the old facility. He also painted a profile of a duck's head in the foliage above the bell tower as a way of protesting Disney's hold on his original duck paintings.

"There was never that much greenery on the tower," Demyan said.

Woods said hidden ducks are a typical Barks characteristic.

Barks' connection to the San Jacinto Valley also is evident in the 1951 comic book "Donald Duck in Old California." The comic, which follows Donald and his nephews as they travel back in time, incorporates the Estudillo Mansion, Soboba Indian Reservation and Ramona Pageant. Many of the characters in the comic book are based loosely on those found in the pageant.

"One of the reasons Barks wrote the story was to get the city to restore the mansion," Demyan said.

Barks also designed the letterhead and logo still used by the San Jacinto Museum, said Phil Brigandi, its curator. He also drew a map of the city, which was used in a 1952 promotion for the Ramona Pageant.

Hali Bernstein Saylor can be reached by phone at (909) 487-2275, ext. 244, or by e-mail at hsaylor@pe.com.