NEWPORT-MESA SCHOOL BOARD WRAP-UP

Newport Coast principal

* What happened: Monique Van Zeebroeck was appointed principal of Newport

Coast Elementary School.

* What it means: Zeebroeck will begin her duties as principal of the new

elementary school April 3. She will begin preparing for the school’s

opening this fall. That will mean helping parents tackle some of the

difficult issues they have been facing, including potential traffic

troubles at the school site.

* What they said: “It’s great to see a parent group so involved and

concerned about what will be best for the children,” Zeebroeck said of

the Newport Coast PTA.

* Vote: Approved, 7-0

Arts center support

* What happened: The school board agreed to draft a letter to the Newport

Beach City Council voicing its support for the proposed Newport Beach

Arts and Education Center.

* What it means: The board is simply letting the council know that they

would like to see the city move ahead with the project.

* What they said: “This center would be invaluable to the children,” said

school board member Serene Stokes.

* Vote: Approved, 7-0

New history test?

* What happened: The board discussed putting more emphasis on the U.S.

Constitution in eighth-grade history class. School board members Judy

Franco and Wendy Leece previously asked the school district to increase

the focus on the subject and create a special test that all students

would be required to pass.

After reviewing the new history book and workbook that students will use

next year, the board agreed to hold off further discussion to see how the

new material works out.

* What it means: School board members did not feel the subject was being

covered adequately in the past. Leece and Franco would like to see

Newport-Mesa adopt a model similar to Santa Ana schools, where if

students do not pass a U.S. Constitution test, they are not promoted to

the ninth grade.

* What they said: “A part of what we do is create good citizens and this

will help us do that,” Franco said.

* No vote

SOUNDING OFF

“If students put as much creativity into the community service as they do

into these forms, the whole community would benefit.”

-- David Brooks, on new high school community service graduation

requirements, which were approved. Brooks related a story of a student

logging community service hours for helping load a van for a ski trip.

NEXT MEETING

March 28, 7 p.m., District Education Center, 2895-A Bear St., Costa Mesa.