College, School District partner to expand college services to East County

Former Arcadia School to serve as Center

TOLEDO, OREGON – Oregon Coast Community College and Lincoln County School District have announced a partnership that will expand college services in East Lincoln County through the use of the former Arcadia School building, located at 1811 NE Arcadia Drive in Toledo. The collaboration will allow OCCC to use space in the building to deliver a variety of programming closer to where residents live.

“This partnership marks a meaningful step forward in OCCC’s service to East Lincoln County,” said Dr. Marshall Mease Roache, President of Oregon Coast Community College. “In my first full year as President, I’ve been asked repeatedly how the College plans to expand its presence in East County. This collaboration with LCSD reflects our shared commitment to educational access and community development.”

OCCC has offered welding instruction at the Port of Toledo since 2020, and the availability of the Arcadia site will allow the College to broaden its offerings in the area. This spring, the College’s Small Business Development Center will deliver workshops on entrepreneurship and marketing, while the College’s Community Education program will deliver workshops on topics ranging from planning for end-of-life to playing Mah Jongg. The College hopes to offer adult basic education — possibly including GED courses and English for Speakers of Other Languages — as early as the fall term.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Oregon Coast Community College on this important effort,” said Dr. Majalise Tolan, Superintendent of Lincoln County School District. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to maximizing existing public resources. By putting the Arcadia building back into service for educational purposes, we’re supporting local students and communities without asking taxpayers to fund new construction. It’s a smart, sustainable way to strengthen access to education across every corner of our 1,200-square-mile county.”

Arcadia School includes original buildings constructed around 1963, with a main building added in 1978. While the site has not been a full-time school since 2006, Arcadia has remained in active use, supporting after-school programs, temporarily housing students during nearby school construction, and serving as home to several district departments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility was adapted to support distance learning and continues to house records, special education resources, and other district operations like Nutrition Services.

“OCCC is grateful to Lincoln County School District for its spirit of collaboration,” Dr. Roache added. “As we begin to plan and prepare the Arcadia site for new college services, we look forward to working closely with residents and partners in East County to ensure the opportunities we deliver are responsive to local needs.”

East County residents who may be interested in leading Community Education workshops in the facility should reach out to the College’s Office of Engagement via email at communityed@oregoncoast.edu or 541-994-4166.

Learn more about Oregon Coast Community College and its growing network of instructional sites at oregoncoast.edu.