Community Enrichment Coming to a Campus Near You

A slew of enrichment classes will now be offered as part of a new mission adopted by Murrieta Valley Adult School under its new name, Murrieta Valley Adult School and Community Education.

offered at and . Classes included Fast Math, Fraction Nation, computers, drama, introduction to foreign languages, music theory, mock trial, screenwriting and summer chorus.

The district charged $50 for a three-week session. The most popular was Scholastic's Fast Math and Fraction Nation, with 45 students signing up to take the computer program designed to sharpen elementary math skills.

Tom Petrich, principal of Murrieta Valley Adult School and Community Education, wants to extend that to a yearlong program, with sessions running in fall, spring and summer. He expects the fall session to launch after Labor Day.

Under the umbrella of the adult school, the district can charges fees for the classes so long as they are for recreation and not credit, said Guy Romero, assistant superintendent of educational services for the Murrieta Valley Unified School District.

"This year, all of the sudden, I had this 'ah-ha' moment in regards to the under-utilization of our adult education," Romero said. "It is the one venue we've always had and never used."

The adult school will continue to serve adults both in fee-based and free classes. Current offerings include GED, high school diploma, English as a Second Language, California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) preparation and others.

Examples of current fee-based classes for adults include ceramics and Quickbooks. Before the launch of the program this summer, the only class offered for K-12 students was babysitting.

Petrich's vision is to recruit district teachers to instruct the classes. He also wants to reach out to community members who may have an area of expertise. Instructors not already with the district would go through the district hiring process, take a tuberculosis test, and be paid around $30 per hour, he said.

The classes will most likely be held for one hour a week, for six- or eight-week sessions. Ideally, they would take place after school on campuses throughout the district, Petrich said.

"If I were a parent, and I am, and there was something interesting for my child to go to after school, I would take it," Petrich said.

Romero said Capistrano Valley Unified School District already has a similar program in place, and has used it to offset costs for classroom materials used in regular curriculum.

"The intent here is a funding method to help support what is going on during the school year," Romero said.

Although the City of Murrieta offers several community enrichment options, Romero said city staff fields requests for new classes on a regular basis.

"They just don't have the personnel or the facilities (to expand)," Romero said. "They would like to meet with us to share what community members have requested.

"We are sitting on something that is great for our community and great for our kids."

School board members and the superintendent gave their approval of the changes at a recent meeting.

"I know we were all in agreement that it is a great concept," said Board Member Kris Thomasian.

"We have a community full of people who really want these opportunities," said Superintendent Stan Scheer. "And we have the resources and the organization structure."