New school in Scotts Valley officially welcomed to community

A large contingent of Scotts Valley community members, along with civic, business, and education leaders, were present on a warm Wednesday afternoon to attend the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for Monterey Coast Preparatory Middle and High School, better known as MCP.
In its first year in Scotts Valley, the small, private school currently boasts a student body of 24 youths between sixth and 12^th grades — as well as eight staff members — in the buildings formerly occupied by the former Bethany University’s administration staff.
The specialty of MCP is in its education programs, which are tailored to accommodate special-needs students — a broad description which includes those with varying learning differences as well as those on the autism spectrum.
“The purpose is not to get kids into college, but to give them the capability to have a rich and full life,” said Executive Director Jay Dunlap. “Our students are often described as ‘twice exceptional.’”
In addition to regular coursework, Dunlap said, MCP students could participate in course in drama, digital journalism, and filmmaking.
Several MCP students spoke at the ceremony, including Class President Patrick Clemens, who applauded the school’s methods of instruction.
“This school doesn’t just teach you math and science,” he said. “It teaches you how to be a human being.”
Other students echoed Clemens, and explained how the school had worked with them to overcome obstacles in the path to education, such as learning disabilities or self-esteem issues.
The school, which has existed since 2010, is fully accredited and had been operating in temporary facilities in the Harvey West area of Santa Cruz until moving to the former Bethany buildings this year, said Jill McKee, president of MCP’s board of directors.
McKee described the school’s beginnings, which came when a group of parents with children enrolled at the now-defunct Empire Academy decided to create their own school when the school shut down with little warning mid-year.
“We came home from a field trip on a Friday and found the doors locked,” she said. “We had a building Friday night…we had classes on Monday, and we haven’t stopped.”
McKee said that, when the school had moved into its temporary location, they’d had no clue that it would be three years before finding a home in Scotts Valley.
“We spend from (2010) to now looking for a place,” she said, adding that the decision to relocate to Scotts Valley was aided by the welcoming nature of the city. “We felt like we had the support of the Scotts Valley community.”
Scotts Valley Mayor Jim Reed spoke at the ceremony, applauding the mission of the school.
“Not every kid fits into the same box,” he said, adding that having a school tailored specifically to those with special needs would be a great asset to the city.
“It’s like this building was designed with MCP in mind,” he said.
For more information about MCP, visit www.exploremcp.org