SCHOOL BOARD WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District board gave the go-ahead

Tuesday to a preliminary plan to eventually offer preschool instruction

to every family in Newport-Mesa.

Jane Garland, the school readiness program facilitator for the

district, laid out her vision for a pilot school readiness program,

pending a grant from the state Department of Education. She must still

wait for the California Commission for Children and Families to send

Proposition 10 funds to Newport-Mesa to get the ball rolling.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The plan would serve children younger than 5 and their families. It

would create a preschool program, like the one at Whittier Elementary

School, and duplicate it at Wilson School. It would also bring the

services of Child Development Services, a private company that serves

Newport Coast, Lincoln and Eastbluff schools, and extend services to the

remainder of Newport-Mesa’s schools over the next several years. The plan

also includes an information resource center and a Healthy Start clinic.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“On average, Newport-Mesa Unified School District kindergarten

teachers consider 40% of all children entering kindergarten not ready for

school.”

-- Jane Garland said, citing information gathered from a districtwide

study

Vote: 5/0

IN FAVOR

WHAT HAPPENED:

The school board honored 45 employees from all areas of education who

retired this year.

WHAT IT MEANS:

A reception in their honor was held before the meeting and each was

honored with a plaque.

Vote: No vote

WHAT HAPPENED:

The prototype for a new classified employee handbook was presented to

and accepted by the school board. Before this document was created, the

last revision found was made in 1977.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Every employee -- old-timers and new hires -- will be given a copy of

this book, which will include everything from holiday and sick time to

district policies to where employees can pick up their paychecks.

Vote: No vote

WHAT HAPPENED:

The board gave district staff permission to apply for the Arts in

Education Model Development and Dissemination Program.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The program was developed by the federal government to provide grant

opportunities to school districts to develop model programs that would

bring the arts back into elementary education. Projects will be funded

with $1 million for up to 36 months.

Vote: 5/0

IN FAVOR

NEXT MEETING

* What: Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education

meeting

* When: 7 p.m. Aug. 28

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