NEWPORT-MESA SCHOOL BOARD WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

Whittier Elementary School’s Helping One Student To Succeed program

received a certificate of achievement a mere three months after it began.

It is the first time the program’s corporation has ever given this award

after such a short time.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Whittier and community volunteers have done a monumental job in reaching

the children of the school community.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“I have never presented an exemplary award this early on in a program,”

said Steve Alba of the Helping One Student To Succeed Corp.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education approved

three parent-teacher involvement program grants: The Teresa B. Hughes

Family-School Partnership, the Neil-Soto Parent-teacher Involvement Grant

and the Tom Hayden Community-based Parent Involvement Grant.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The many schools wishing to apply for the grants have been given the

green light by the district to enter the statewide competition. Eight of

Newport Mesa’s schools -- Whittier, Wilson, College Park, Sonora,

Paularino, Pomona and Read elementary schools, and TeWinkle Middle School

-- have already expressed an interest in one or more of the grants.

VOTE: APPROVED, 6-0

WHAT HAPPENED:

The board passed a second resolution clarifying for the public and future

school boards the intent of the facilities repair and replacement program

and the facilities repair and replacement reserve, should Measure A pass

June 6.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The trustees were attempting to let future school boards clearly

understand the intent of the maintenance reserve fund.

VOTE: APPROVED, 4-2

WHAT HAPPENED:

A special board meeting was set for 5 p.m. June 8 at the District

Education Center to review the proposed 2000-01 budget and to establish

budget priorities.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Any members of the public wishing to be privy to the budget or to comment

on Newport-Mesa’s budget or budget priorities may attend the special

meeting.

VOTE: APPROVED, 6-0

SOUNDING OFF

“I am proud to say I now represent a Blue Ribbon School.”

-- Danny Hilton, the student board member representing Newport Harbor

High School, which was named a Blue Ribbon School on Monday by the U.S.

Department of Education.

NEXT MEETINGS

* Special meeting: 5 p.m. June 8, District Education Center, 2985-A Bear

St., Costa Mesa.

* Regular meeting: 7 p.m. June 13, District Education Center, 2985-A Bear

St., Costa Mesa.