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 discuss tonight.

DRUG AND ALCOHOL PARENT EDUCATION VIDEO

The school district and Harbor Council PTA produced a

parent-education video about the district’s 4210 policy regarding

drug and alcohol offenses. This will be the first public showing of

the parent-education video.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The policy, which has undergone changes lately, applies to student

conduct and drugs and alcohol offenses. The district amended the

zero-tolerance policy to offer counseling for students and give them

the option of returning to their home school sooner.

Harbor Council PTA worked with the district to produce the video,

which focuses on parent education, awareness and opportunities for

confidential assistance through the district. The video, in English

and Spanish, will be distributed on a video compact disc to 8,000

middle and high school students in Newport-Mesa.

The screening will take place during the presentation portion of

the meeting.

QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT

School districts are required by state law to present quarterly

reports about their investments. Paul Reed, assistant superintendent

of business services, will provide the latest information on the

financial institutions that work with the district.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Most of the district’s money is maintained in the county treasury.

The district may hire a trustee financial institution to handle bond

funds. Commercial banks may hold checking accounts for revolving cash

funds or student use.

The district has most of its money in an Orange County Investment

Pool money market account, according to a March 31 district treasury

report. That includes general, special reserve and $16.2 million in

Measure A funds.

These reports are required by state law.

DISTRICT TO BORROW FUNDS

The board will consider a resolution allowing the district to

participate in a multi-district program to temporarily borrow money.

This will authorize the district to borrow up to $20 million for

fiscal year 2004-05 and participate in the South Coast Local

Education Agencies Pooled Tax and Revenue Anticipation Note Program.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The district borrows money to see it through the tax-dry period

from July to December, depending on its projected cash receipts and

disbursements the previous six months.

For 2003-04, Newport-Mesa and 10 other districts joined the

$136-million program. Newport-Mesa borrowed a little more than $13

million, due to be paid back June 30.

This year’s program is due to be issued in June with funding July

1. The size of this year’s disbursement has not been determined, but

will not exceed $20 million for Newport-Mesa.