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The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

SBCC considers renting space to International English School

SBCC considers renting space to International English School

With a lack of classrooms and a crammed Student Services building, City College officials discussed whether or not the school would continue to rent out buildings to Kaplan International English.

The English school has been at City College since 2007. Kaplan’s facilities lease with the school was renewed in June 2012, and will end in less than two years. Representatives from the school have approached the college and asked about the rental future, wondering if their contract will be renewed.

“They want to know.. what’s the status,” said Superintendent-President Dr. Lori Gaskin.

The College Planning Council took an unofficial straw vote. Five members were in favor of a contract extension and seven were opposed.

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Space is the biggest concert for the college. Gaskin explained that even if the college’s enrollment numbers are down 4 percent this semester, the college does have space issues.

Laurie Vasquez, vice president of the Academic Senate, asked how the space would be used if it became available for City College departments.

“I certainly have a plan,” Gaskin said. “And that’s Student Services.”

The portables Kaplan currently use are planned to be removed by 2020. The council was concerned renting the space out to Kaplan again wouldn’t be the most efficient use of space.

“We might as well continue to rent it until 2020,” said Academic Senate Representative Kathy O’Connor. She added that the college should extend the contract and keep the income, which has brought a total revenue of approximately $4 million over the last eight years.

“It’s not just the revenue that they contribute… It’s also the fact that they do buy products from the campus store, and food services, “ stated Joseph Sullivan, vice president of business services. “They contribute heavily to those, especially in the summer.”

Gaskin pointed out that the time schedule should not be a factor, as the scheduled removal of the portables could be extended. However the extension would have to be approved by the Coastal Commission. Sullivan said that the extension could not be promised, but that it is a great possibility.

The issue will go to the Board of Trustees next week.

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