COAST CITIES — MiraCosta College has signed off on a deal to share several classrooms at Carlsbad’s newly opened Sage Creek High School for college credit courses that will be open to Sage Creek and Carlsbad high school students, the public and other currently enrolled high school students from any school district.MiraCosta College’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the arrangement at its Sept. 17 meeting.
The Carlsbad Unified School District’s Board of Trustees gave its blessing to the partnership at an Aug. 14 board meeting. The Carlsbad Unified Board policy allows for the use of school facilities or grounds without charge for organizations or associations that promote youth and school activities. Because CUSD students will directly benefit from the availability of these classes, the facility use fees will be waived for the first year.
“I think this is a terrific opportunity — a win-win for MiraCosta College and the Carlsbad Unified School District,” said MiraCosta College board member Leon Page during a discussion just before the Tuesday afternoon vote.
Page said sharing facilities among various districts is “a smart use of public assets” and will become more common as government agencies face leaner budgets.
“I hope this becomes a model. I see this as the basis for further opportunities to work together.”
Dr. Mary Benard, MiraCosta College’s vice president for Instructional Services, said officials, in collaboration with Dr. Rob Nye, assistant superintendent of Instructional Services for Carlsbad Unified, are narrowing down the list of possible college courses that will soon be taught at Sage Creek, a $95-million high school that opened for the fall semester in late August.
Use of Sage Creek facilities is set to begin in January 2014, with MiraCosta College’s courses beginning the first week of the spring semester, Jan. 13. Classes will be held 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. MiraCosta College will be responsible for security and insurance costs while college courses are taught.
Under the agreement, MiraCosta College will waive enrollment fees for all concurrently enrolled Carlsbad Unified students taking courses from MiraCosta College, whether at Sage Creek or at MiraCosta College’s campuses in Oceanside and San Elijo. The board of trustees will vote next month on whether to extend the waiving of enrollment fees to all concurrently enrolled high school students.
“The opportunity for high school students to take college-level courses free of enrollment fees is a huge incentive for students and families to choose to attend MiraCosta College and an incredible service to the community,” said MiraCosta College Superintendent/President Francisco Rodriguez.
Sage Creek opened this year with about 300 freshmen, but the campus has enough room to enroll up to 1,500 students, leaving room for MiraCosta College to offer courses. However, as Sage Creek reaches capacity, any facilities being used by the college will be designated to serve Sage Creek High School students first.
Sage Creek High School sits at Cannon Road and College Boulevard, about three miles south of MiraCosta College’s Oceanside Campus. It was funded through the Carlsbad school district’s Proposition P, which voters passed in 2006.
New students interested in enrolling in these courses must first fill out a MiraCosta College free application, available online at miracosta.edu/apply. The spring credit class schedule will be available online at miracosta.edu on November 1, 2013 and enrollment will begin shortly thereafter. For additional information about applying and enrolling, call The MiraCosta College Admissions and Records Office at (760)795-6620.
