ON THE AGENDA

Budget public hearing

The school board will hold a public hearing at the start of the

regular school board meeting tonight to give residents a chance to

comment on or ask questions about the tentative budget for the upcoming

school year.

What to expect: If the board hears no concerns or questions from the

audience, they will, later in the meeting, consider adopting the

tentative budget.

Car dealers donations

In October, two board members approached representatives from the

group of car dealerships known as the Harbor Boulevard of Cars who had

expressed interest in helping in possible fund-raising efforts. A plan

was developed in which $50 is set aside for Newport-Mesa schools with

each car sold.

What to expect: Members of the Harbor Boulevard of Cars will formally

announce to school board members tonight the second donation of $50,000.

Of that $50,000, $25,000 is designated for Newport Harbor High School’s

Advancement Via Individual Determination program and the other $25,000

will help pay for an after-school tutoring program for middle school

students at Costa Mesa High School. The group also made the announcement

of this second donation at the Costa Mesa Academic All-Stars breakfast

last month.

Nonteachers salary accord

After extensive negotiations, school district officials and members of

the California School Employees Assn. have reached a tentative agreement,

which the board will vote on tonight.

A request for an additional salary increase to keep their pay

competitive with similar districts in Orange County had classified, or

nonteachers and administrators employees, out in force last month.

Hundreds of classified employees attended a school board meeting to show

their support of the union.

What to expect: The tentative agreement would provide an additional 3%

salary increase that would be retroactive to July. Employees would

receive retroactive pay in the fall. In addition, employees would begin

to see the 3% in their pay as of July 1. The district also would commit

to a 2% increase next summer.

FYI

WHAT: Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education meeting

WHEN: 7 p.m. today

WHERE: District Education Center, 2985-A Bear St., Costa Mesa