CLIFTON The Clifton Board of Education is seeking to form a "medical arts academy" curriculum for students of Clifton High School and eventually form a partnership with an incoming medical school.

The Board voted to begin discussions with Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) and Seton Hall University, which in January signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a private medical school on a portion of the Nutley and Clifton land formerly occupied by Hoffmann-La Roche.

The school is slated to be run out of buildings 123 and 123A leased from Roche, which houses about $500,000 million of equipment in 500,000 square feet. If the plan remains on schedule, the new medical school expects to instruct its first students in 2017.

"I think it's an excellent opportunity to develop a relationship and develop a curriculum for a medical arts academy," said School Board commissioner, James Daley, who first proposed the partnership for the high school last month.

Currently Clifton High School is affiliated with two area colleges: Montclair State University (MSU) and Passaic County Community College (PCCC).

Both programs provide students dual enrollment, meaning they earn college and high school course credits for taking the college-level courses. Eligible seniors must meet GPA requirements and be in good disciplinary standing.

Most offered courses are general education without prerequisites, but certain programs allow students to begin business tracks, criminal justice courses, and art electives.

"It offers students a great opportunity to experience college and obtain college credit that's transferable to any state college or university," said Peter Cumba, who handles senior year options at the high school.

Students who dual enroll pay a reduced tuition for the courses and have abbreviated high school schedules. MSU-enrolled students take courses on the college campus; PCCC-enrolled students take courses at the high school at the end of the school day.

Cumba said students in the program generally take one course in the fall and two in the spring. The school also provides students with an option for "very intense" EMT training program, contingent on GPA requirements, rigorous field work, and a final exam.

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District looks to partner Clifton High School with incoming medical school