INSIDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT Here are some...

INSIDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Here are some of the decisions coming out of Tuesday’s school

board meeting.

LINDA MOOK HONORED

WHAT HAPPENED

The board honored Linda Mook, the outgoing president of the

Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, with a starfish plaque for her

35 years of service. Receiving two standing ovations, Mook gave an

emotional thank you to the board for appreciating her work.

“I truly think this honor is less about me and more about who

we’ve become together,” Mook said. “I think it’s really a testament

of what we can do together. We don’t speak with a single voice, but

we can speak with a united voice.”

Board members expressed gratitude for the relationship she helped

build between the school district and the teacher’s union, as well as

hope that they will be able to continue that relationship in the

future.

2002 API SCORES

WHAT HAPPENED

Peggy Anatol , director of assessment for the school district,

presented the Academic Performance Index report for 2002 to the

board. Seeing large discrepancies among the various rankings within

the report, board members expressed concern about the accuracy of the

numbers.

“It looks pretty bogus to me, what the state does,” said Trustee

Tom Egan, the first to express concern about the report. “I’m just

concerned about what perception it gives to the outside world.”

Most of the other board members agreed.

While concerns about the statistical accuracy of the report were

expressed, board members also agreed that the base scores could still

be used as a motivation for improvement.

WHAT IT MEANS

Because of concerns expressed by board members, Anatol agreed to

work with the board to provide a better understanding of what the

rankings represent. No decision was required.

2003 SUMMER SCHOOL

WHAT HAPPENED

Jaime Castellanos, assistant superintendent of secondary schools,

gave a presentation to the board on the location and calendar for the

2003 summer school for secondary education. He also told the board

that they were working on expanding the courses offered during the

summer session to include art and adult and evening classes. The

middle school summer program will be a 25-day session at TeWinkle

Middle School. The high school program will be a 30-day session at

Estancia High School.

WHAT IT MEANS

The board approved the 2003 summer school location and calendar

for the secondary and middle school programs.

-- Compiled by

Christine Carrillo