3 questions: Where Newport-Mesa school board candidates stand on the issues

One incumbent and six challengers are running for three spots on the seven-member Newport-Mesa Unified School District board. The Daily Pilot asked each candidate the same three questions:

1) What is one problem that your zone is currently facing and how would you remedy the issue?

2) If elected, how would you entice families to enroll their kids in Newport-Mesa schools as opposed to leaving for other districts?

3) What prompted you to seek a spot on the school board?

Their responses, edited for space and clarity, are below:

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Trustee Area 1 — Estancia High School zone:

Vicki Snell

Age: 62

Community volunteer and current board member

1) Our schools need to be every parent’s first choice, and that just isn’t always the case. While our schools rank extremely high in teacher quality, curricular/extra-curricular offerings and class size, some of our subgroups don’t perform well on state tests, lowering overall school scores. The district continues to incorporate successful strategies and data-driven interventions found to be successful in other districts with similar subgroups, and scores have improved over the past three years. Since parent involvement is crucial to student success, we need to expand our parent education options to those parents who struggle with helping their student.

2) Parents must be confident that their neighborhood school meets their child’s academic and social needs. Our signature academies, rigorous curriculum and expanded AP/IB offerings provide students more opportunities. However, each elementary school must offer programs that fill a particular need in their community. We began two primary dual-immersion language programs this year, and plans are now being made for a Modern Scholars program targeting GATE and high-achieving students at Adams Elementary. I believe an Adams preschool would serve our families and build community, and we need to continue to publicize our schools so parents can make informed choices.

3) I have experience, passion and time to dedicate to the children in our district as proven by my active and consistent involvement for 15 years. My children attended Adams, TeWinkle and Estancia, and during that time I worked with parents, teachers and administration for the continued betterment of our schools. I served in leadership roles at each school through PTA and site councils. As Harbor Council PTA president, I had the opportunity to work with parents and administration throughout the district. I listen to parents, engage with teachers and have the experience to continue to be effective representing Area 1.

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Steve Smith

Age: 59

Writer

1) Adams Elementary has great potential but is underperforming. Parents within walking distance of Adams are choosing to send their kids elsewhere. I will work to stop the school board complacency and indifference that has caused parents to flee. My plan is to seek similar schools that have turned around and ask three questions: What is working? What is not working? If you could start over, what would you do differently? Then I would attempt to apply that knowledge to Adams.

2) As a friend would say, “It’s not rocket surgery.” The schools need to perform better academically, plain and simple. Whatever the school board and the district administration have been doing is not working. So it’s time to try something else. We have the teachers and the resources; we just need the will on the school board. Teachers are usually the best resource because they are the ones in the trenches. As the candidate in my zone endorsed by the teachers union, I will work closely with teachers to come up with ideas.

3) For years, I wrote about school board complacency and indifference in my Daily Pilot column, whether it was regarding underperforming schools in Costa Mesa, the disregard for financial responsibility to taxpayers, the bungling of important issues such as cheating at Corona del Mar High, the lack of air conditioning in classrooms or the stifling of teacher criticism for fear of retaliation. When I read a quote last May by a current board member that parents on Costa Mesa’s Westside should “wait a few years” while the district develops its dual-language program, I realized it was time to run.

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Trustee Area 2 — Costa Mesa High School zone:

Charlene Metoyer

Age: 64

Retired principal

1) There is a perception that students can receive a more challenging and rigorous curriculum than they do at Costa Mesa High School. The school’s Delta (math, science, engineering) academy and the ACE (academy of creative expression) will join the established business academy. They provide opportunities for all students to take exciting and challenging coursework in addition to the advantages of completion of an academy. The new curriculum units, designed by Newport-Mesa teachers, will both engage and challenge our elementary students. Elementary schools provide enrichment opportunities before, during and after school to prepare students interested in participating in these academies.

2) Each high school has developed signature academies that will be recognized by the UC and CSU systems as challenging and as an indicator of academic rigor. Completion of such an academy can give students preferred enrollment. As a board member, I will monitor the implementation of the Costa Mesa zone academies: Delta, Business and ACE, as well as the other high school zones’ academies. I will support their local administration’s pursuit of UC/CSU recognition for college enrollment advantages from completing an academy. This, in turn, would entice families to attend NMUSD schools.

3) As an elementary and secondary teacher, district coordinator and elementary principal, I have an in-depth knowledge of the workings of the district. As a parent of four children who attended Newport-Mesa schools and as president of a PTA and PFO, I have the firsthand experience of our parents. As a resident of Costa Mesa for 38 years, I understand the need for collaboration between the community and district. As a recent retiree, I have the time it takes to do an outstanding job. I will work with our board to ensure that Newport-Mesa provides the best education for our future citizens.

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Michael Collier

Age: 59

Field operations manager

1) One issue in Zone 2 is attendance. Data from the state show that NMUSD has the highest truancy rate in Orange County. Costa Mesa High School has a 14% truancy rate. Students who don’t show up regularly, especially at an early age, may miss learning fundamental reading and math skills. This translates to poor attendance, lower test scores and retention in high school. Solution? Get families and community members involved. Building a culture of great attendance needs to involve all stakeholders. We also need to ensure that all students have healthy classrooms and better recreation facilities to enhance learning.

2) To entice families we need to need to ensure that we have the best schools and programs possible. As each zone continues to implement the distinguished programs and academy capstone projects they have identified, we need to find ways to share the programs throughout the community through our stakeholders. I would have each zone find creative ways to personally invite families to be a part of our schools. We need to also improve our sports facilities and staff. There are many opportunities for student athletes with the promise of a great education. We need to educate the whole student.

3) I am experienced as a trustee for NMUSD, serving Area 2. I have noticed that many distractions have caused contention and issues on the board and throughout the district. My background is in education. I taught high school and was a college administrator. I received my master of education and while on the board received my master of governance from the California School Boards Assn. My skills include building professional relationships, working as a team, staying focused, listening and finding solutions. I am the father of three NMUSD graduates with one currently attending CMHS .My skills are needed in NMUSD.

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Trustee Area 7 — Costa Mesa Westside elementary schools

Walt Davenport

Age: 79

Incumbent board member and business owner

1) A misperception of the quality of the schools. We need to get more parents into the schools to observe the quality of education being provided. Parent involvement will also improve student performance, which further improves school performance.

2) Much the same as the answer to question 1.

3) I was recruited by two members of the school board while I was serving as a Costa Mesa planning commissioner. I was interested at the time but didn’t want to resign from the Planning Commission. When the Zone 7 seat became vacant in 2006, I recalled my earlier interest and decided to run since I was no longer on the Planning Commission and had no conflict.

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Fidel Mora

Age: 42

Small-business owner

1) One of the problems in the Westside is class size. My goal is to reduce class size by expanding schools and buying portables.

2) Focus on science, music and the quantity of school programs.

3) I have always been involved in the schools and engaged with my community. My kids had the opportunity to be in small classes, and I want that for all students to give them a better future.

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Lisa Manfredi

Age: 49

Community volunteer

(Manfredi did not return answers by publication deadline.)