NEWPORT-MESA SCHOOL BOARD WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

The school board meeting opened Tuesday to thunderous applause and a

standing ovation when retired Adams Elementary School Principal Barbara

Harrington was recognized for receiving the Principal Excellence Award

from the Irvine Co. It was a scene that was repeated when Sonora

Elementary School Principal Lorie Hoggard and Harbor View Elementary

School Principal Karen Kendall were recognized.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The three school communities in the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District wanted to honor principals who go above and beyond to make their

schools a special place.

WHAT HAPPENED:

Jaime Castellanos, assistant superintendent of secondary education,

presented the school board with the annual report on the 4210 policy,

which calls for zero tolerance of student discipline violations and most

commonly applies to the use of drugs and alcohol.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Castellanos reported that the number of students transferred and

expelled during the last school year was down from previous years.

During the 1999-2000 school year, 49 students -- two from elementary,

13 from middle school and 34 from high school -- were transferred for

reasons stemming from drugs, alcohol, paraphernalia, stealing, sexual

harassment, violence and threats, dangerous objects, or gang graffiti.

During the course of the school year, 26 students -- three from

elementary, 11 from middle school and 12 from high school -- were

expelled. Students were expelled for reasons stemming from an illegal

substance, threats and fighting, weapons, sexual harassment, causing

serious injury, or dangerous objects such as knives and fire.

The previous year, 1998-99, 61 students were transferred and 37 were

expelled.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“The numbers show a significant reduction, which means the

zero-tolerance policy works,” Castellanos said.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The school board adopted new promotion and retention standards for the

seventh and eighth grades. The same policy is already in effect for

kindergarten through eighth grades.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The state requires all school districts to modify their retention and

promotion guidelines to reflect the new state mandate to end social

promotion. The elementary grades began a new policy to identify and aid

students considered to be at risk of failing. Now the seventh and eighth

grades are also operating under those guidelines.

VOTE: 7 in favor / 0 against

NEXT MEETING:

The school board will meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at the District Education

Center, 2895-A Bear St., Costa Mesa.