ON THE AGENDA Here are some of...

ON THE AGENDA

Here are some of the items the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District board of trustees will be discussing tonight.

PROPOSITIONS 55, 57 AND 58

The board will consider resolutions supporting the three

propositions that will affect public school budgets.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Proposition 55 would provide state matching funds to school

districts. Its passage would allow the state to sell $12.3 billion in

general obligation bonds to fund school facilities improvement.

Newport-Mesa stands to get $50 million if it passes. That money

would go to the multi-school Measure A facilities improvement

program.

Proposition 57 would allow the state to issue a $15-billion bond

to shore up the state’s budget.

Proposition 58 would require an annual balanced budget and adds

more stipulations to help keep the state afloat financially.

Together, propositions 57 and 58 would provide the foundation for

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget. If they do not pass,

schools may face deeper budget cuts.

The district will likely support the three propositions.

TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING

The district will consider dropping its tuberculosis screening

requirement for kindergarten through 12th-grade students.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Orange County Health Care Agency has withdrawn its mandate for

screening all students new to Orange County schools for tuberculosis.

It determined that the screening is ineffective in detecting or

preventing the disease.

As of Aug. 1, 2003 tuberculosis screening is only required for

preschool entry. The policy to screen was adopted in 1998.

The board is expected to approve the change.

MARINE ADOPTION

The board will consider a resolution “adopting” the First

Battalion, First Marines from Camp Pendleton.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The city of Newport Beach has already adopted the battalion, which

is stationed in the Middle East.

The adoption arrangement encourages residents to send letters and

gifts to the Marines. In turn, they will serve as color guard at city

functions when they return.

They may also participate in reading programs or speak at schools.