By CRAIG SHULTZ - cshultz@californian.com

MURRIETA ---- If talks between the school district and the Chamber of Commerce prove fruitful, the offices for the business organization could one day be inside Murrieta Mesa High School.

Leaders from both groups stress that the idea is in the preliminary stages, with items such as rental fees still to be determined.

"It's still very much in the talking stage," Murrieta Valley Unified School District Superintendent Stan Scheer said. "I think they have some interest."

If a deal is struck, the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce would move from its rented office space on Kalmia Street to Murrieta Mesa, which is between California Oaks and Los Alamos roads, just east of Interstate 15.

Rex Oliver, president and chief executive office of the chamber, said that if an agreement is reached, it would mark the first time in California that a chamber of commerce would be housed inside a school.

The new high school is scheduled to open Aug. 12; no timeframe has been set for a potential move by the chamber.

Scheer, who is an ex-officio board member for the chamber, said there would be benefits for both students and local businesses by having the chamber headquarters on campus.

"It's almost immeasurable in terms of having access to the chamber and for the business community working with our kids," Scheer said.

He said the chamber would be a good fit with the school's career pathways program, where students can take a cluster of classes in subjects such as medicine, engineering, business, performing arts and culinary arts. Those programs include partnerships with businesses.

Oliver said that with the proximity to students, the chamber would be able to offer opportunities for students to job shadow and participate in internships.

Students would be able to "test drive" professions they are interested in, he said.

"It's a win-win-win situation for the students, chamber and business community," Oliver said.

By having access to local businesses while in school, Oliver said, he hopes students will see that they don't have to look outside the community for a job when they enter the work force.

"Kids get a good education. This would allow them to get a more direct education," Oliver said.

Scheer said the business community would be able to see what is really happening on campus.

"There's a real disconnect right now with what we do in our schools and what the community thinks we do," Scheer said. "It's another wonderful opportunity to take things up a notch for understanding what we're doing."

Scheer envisions the chamber, which has five employees, using two offices and a conference room in the school's administration building. The chamber would have computer and phone lines separate from the school's.

The Murrieta Mesa campus is designed with the administration building separated from classrooms. That would keep people visiting the chamber away from students and allow for access even when the school is closed.

Call staff writer Craig Shultz at 951-676-4315, ext. 2625.