DESERT NEWS STAFF REPORT
EAST KERN — Efforts to attract a new state university to East Kern and the Antelope Valley will continue to be driven by the East Kern Educational Resources Network (EKERN) during 2008.
EKERN members also plan to continue their efforts to improve education at every level.
During 2007, EKERN hosted California State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed at a meeting at the Mojave Airport/Spaceport.
At that meeting, Chancellor Reed suggested that a community college located next to the new university could offer students their first two years of classes while the state university would offer the final two years plus post-graduate courses.
He said that is what is being done in Florida, where he worked before coming to California, and in other states.
University site
Eric Flodine, Vice President of Community Planning for Strata, said the 640-acre site bteween Mojave and California City that Strata proposes to donate will include approximately 320 acres for the University campus and 320 acres for an adjacent Research and Development Park located just one mile from an existing freeway offramp.
The R&D Park will be on land owned by the University and future tenants will pay lease rates to the University Foundation. These lease revenues would be used not only for maintenance of the R&D Park, but will contribute significant amounts annually towards the university's operating expenses. This revenue will decrease the amount of state funding required to run the university each year. Initial master planning projections of the 320-acre R&D Park show a buildout of approximately five million square feet of leasable building area with a present estimate of over $50 million annual lease income supporting the University's operations and growth.
Flodine sees the 640 acres Strata is offering as a "joint use facility," located right in the middle of the region it will serve.
Tentative plans for the research park on the south half of the 640 acre site include 24 buildings of 30,000 to 150,00 sq. feet.
Most would be two-storey to meet height requirements of the Mojave Airport/Spaceport B-2 zone. Administrative buildings in the northeast corner of the site would have three storeys.
Buildings would be built around a unifying feature similar to a quad or water feature.
"The park would provide some five million sq. feet of research and development space built out over 25 years," Flodine said.
Foundation formed
Seven community and business leaders in the region have beeen asked to join the board of directors of the High Desert University Foundation. They will be supplemented by a larger advisory board. The foundation has already received a $5 million pledge from Strata and cash donations from local residents.
K-12 education
At another EKERN meeting, Dr. Mary Retterer, president of Cerro Coso Community College, and Larry Phelps, supt. of the Mojave Unified School District, told EKERN members that business and industry leaders can help supply the motivation necessary to put kids on the path to becoming productive citizens.
Retterer and Phelps spoke in response to a request from EKERN President Bill Way to "identify the top ten challenges facing East Kern education." EKERN was formed one year ago to coordinate the region's efforts to attract a four-year state university and to ensure that area students qualify for admission to the university.
Both Retterer and Phelps said they are working to develop programs that meet the needs of local employers.
"Connecting with the community is critical," said Retterer. "The college needs to be a player in the community's growth."
Phelps agreed. "Business and the schools must be connected."
Both emphasized the need for students to attend college to meet the requirements of modern business and industry.
Local campuses
Retterer also said Cerro Coso plans to develop additional campuses in East Kern. The college has a campus at Edwards Air Force Base, but Air Force security requirements make it difficult for non-military students to attend. She and Phelps are working together to make space available at California City and Mojave high schools. Mojave High has offered a Cerro Coso class for several years and plans to offer more, Phelps said.
"We want to provide classes locally so students don't have to drive long distances." Retterer said.
