ON THE AGENDA NEWPORT HARBOR SEISMIC...

ON THE AGENDA

NEWPORT HARBOR SEISMIC REFITTING

During a structural engineering study of the Robins Hall/Loats

Theater building at Newport Harbor High School, done as part of the

district’s Measure A reconstruction, school officials discovered that

they represented an unacceptable risk if Newport Beach suffered a

“code magnitude seismic event.” As a result, the school board

directed staff members to develop plans to vacate the buildings

during the summer and find ways of eliminating the danger.

The preliminary estimate of a complete retrofit, which would

include a partial deconstruction, seismic augmentation and

reconstruction, falls in the $20-million to $30-million range. The

preliminary estimates for a new building, which would be reminiscent

of the original architecture and keep the existing tower and theater

facade, would fall in the $18-million to $23-million range.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Staff members will present their findings to the board, and the

board will have to decide on a seismic retrofit or replacing the

building altogether. Staff members are recommending that the board

approve the second option, since it would be safer and more

cost-effective.

EXPELLED YOUTH PROCEDURES

The Newport-Mesa School District and the Orange County Department

of Education has revised the “plan for expelled youth” and are

presenting the updated plan to the board for their approval. The new

plan identifies other placements for expelled students who have

already been placed in district or community school programs and do

not meet the terms and conditions for their rehabilitation plan or

who pose a danger to other students, as determined by the governing

board.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The board is expected to approve the revised and updated plan.

-- Compiled by

Christine Carrillo