Here are some decisions coming out of...

Here are some decisions coming out of Tuesday night’s Newport-Mesa

Unified School District meeting.

2003-2004 STATE TESTING UPDATE

District officials received updates on test results from the 2003

Academic Performance Index Base and California High School Exit Exam.

WHAT IT MEANS

Each year, the state issues the Academic Performance Index Base, a

score between 200 and 1,000 with a target of 800. It is based on a

variety of standardized tests.

This is the first year that the state issued API scores to the

district as a whole. Newport-Mesa Unified School District scored 733.

Districtwide, 11 schools exceeded 800.

Schools are also ranked in comparison with other schools.

Andersen, Harbor View, Mariners and Newport Coast elementary schools

and Corona del Mar High School scored a statewide rank of 10, the

highest.

The lowest performing district schools, Whittier, Wilson and

Pomona elementary, showed improvement of at least 5% in their API

scores.

High school students took the California High School Exit Exam

March 15 and 16. By federal law, schools must test 95% of their 10th

graders. Districtwide. In the district, 96.6% of 10th graders took

the test.

MEASURE A UPDATE

Paul Reed, assistant superintendent of business services, updated

progress on the multi-school improvement project.

WHAT IT MEANS

Work on the “Group II schools” -- College Park, Davis,

Killybrooke, Sonora and Wilson elementary, Ensign Intermediate and

Newport Harbor High School -- is under way. Bidding on work on the

next group is in progress.

Reed said that work at Newport Harbor will involve some digging to

locate gas, electric and sewer lines that may not be where plans and

blueprints have indicated.

STRATEGIC PLAN DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

District administrators, teachers, staff, board trustees, parents,

students and community members met earlier this month to begin

development of the district’s five-year plan.

WHAT IT MEANS

The group met April 3 and discussed progress the district has made

over the past five years, such as the development of a civility

policy and standards-based teaching. They also covered current

issues, including alternatives for students not going to college,

preschool for all and dress codes.

District staff will provide continual updates on the board agenda

to inform them of the group’s progress.