NEWPORT-MESA SCHOOL BOARD WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

The school board heard a presentation by Barry Huggins, the vice

president of marketing for Energy Education Inc., an energy management

consulting firm. Huggins outlined a plan that would save the school $3.6

million in the course of the first seven years.

WHAT IT MEANS:

District officials and board members were extremely interested in the

program and the possible savings it could mean for the district. The

board asked that a contract be drawn up and presented for its

consideration at its next meeting.

NO VOTE

WHAT HAPPENED:

The school board approved a shift in funds for the Newport Coast

Elementary School project that would take $96,931 from its cushion fund

and pay it to the contractor for incidentals such as boulder removal,

additional curbing, extra piping.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The cushion fund for the project has dwindled to a mere $51,180. The

majority of the funds, about $80,000, said Mike Fine, assistant

superintendent of business services, was added to the project when

enormous boulders were found when the site was graded. “This is a very

difficult site with specific criteria around it,” he said.

VOTE: 6 IN FAVOR / 0 AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

Cheryl Galloway, who coordinates the Gifted and Talented Education

program (GATE) for the Newport-Mesa district, went to the board for

approval of the program application for state funding. Trustee Martha

Fluor had some concerns about funding for the program at the secondary

level. While the children are identified in the younger grades, funding

at the middle and high school levels goes to advanced-placement classes.

Therefore, those dollars reach other students and may not reach gifted

and talented students who are not in the advanced classes. Galloway and

Supt. Robert Barbot said they would look into other possible ways to

target the secondary students.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The board approved the application and the program will continue to

grow and change as administrators, parents and students find what works

best.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“We’ve gotten parent comments from really positive to really negative

and that’s all part of the change process,” Galloway said.

VOTE: 6 IN FAVOR / 0 AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

The school board certified that the majority of instructors at Monte

Vista High School support becoming a “digital” high school.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Monte Vista is now eligible to participate in the state-funded digital

high school program this year and become the sixth school in Newport-Mesa

to do so.

VOTE: 6 IN FAVOR / 0 AGAINST

NEXT MEETING:

7 p.m. Sept. 5, District Education Center, 2985-A Bear Street, Costa

Mesa.