INSIDE THE DISTRICT Here is a decision...

INSIDE THE DISTRICT

Here is a decision coming out of Tuesday night’s Newport-Mesa

Unified School District meeting:

MEASURE A QUARTERLY REPORTS

The Measure A Citizens’ Oversight Committee and Project Management

Team presented reports for the third quarter of 2003, which ended

Sept. 30.

WHAT IT MEANS

The oversight committee meets on a regular basis and monitors

progress of construction under the $110-million school improvement

bond. In its report, the committee concluded that it feels

“appropriate progress is being made.”

The Division of the State Architect has approved plans for Wilson,

Davis, Killybrooke, Sonora, College Park, California, Adams,

Paularino, Anderson and Pomona elementary schools, TeWinkle

Intermediate School and Costa Mesa High School, said Bonnie Martin, a

director for McCarthy Construction, the company doing the work. Plans

for Rea, Lincoln, Newport and Victoria elementary schools and Newport

Harbor High School have been submitted for approval.

In the next quarter, Martin said that they plan to bid and award

contracts and start work on those schools.

A McCarthy representative is flying to St. Louis this week to

oversee building of the long-delayed windows for Harbor View

Elementary School, she said. The windows should be installed over the

Thanksgiving holiday.

So far, the project has cost $30,834,646.

WHAT THEY SAID

Martin said McCarthy was “comfortable” with the cost so far.

BRIDGES TO YOUTH SELF-SUFFICIENCY

The program works with students, age 14 to 22, and their parents

to get them ready for the working world.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Newport-Mesa Unified School District was one of five Orange County

districts selected by the State Department of Rehabilitation to

receive Social Security funds for a demonstration program.

Newport-Mesa got $64,315 to work with 25 students.

The program targets students who receive Social Security benefits,

including those in foster care, substance abusers and disabled

students. It uses paid work experience, internships, career and

transition planning, and independent living options to help students

become self-sufficient and prepare for life after school.