ON THE AGENDA Here are some decisions...

ON THE AGENDA

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

Unified School District meeting.

STRATEGIC PLAN

District administrators, teachers, classified staff members, board

trustees, parents, students and community members, who formed a group

to develop a strategic plan for the next five years, held their

second meeting on Monday.

WHAT IT MEANS

The district board of trustees requested a continual board agenda

item for updates of the strategic plan.

Items discussed during the group’s meetings include dress codes,

arts and music, technology in schools, universal preschool, health

programs, after school programs and providing alternatives for

students not going to college. Minutes from each session are posted

on the district’s website.

The next strategic plan meeting will take place June 2 at Estancia

High School.

NEW CLASSES

The board, which must approve any changes in the course of study,

approved seven new classes proposed Tuesday night.

Those classes included drawing, science, geometry, biology and

pre-calculus, and senior and freshman seminars are on the agenda.

WHAT IT MEANS

Drawing 1, an elective, will teach beginning concepts and drawing

skills in a variety of mediums.

AVID Senior Seminar, a one-year elective, will include teacher-led

lessons, tutorials and guest speakers. Students will visit colleges

and other educational venues in the course and will receive college

preparation. A one-semester freshman seminar is designed to improve

freshman academic achievement, behavior and involvement.

Essentials of Geometry is a two-semester course to introduce

concepts, but doesn’t meet prerequisites for Algebra 2.

Other courses approved include Honors Pre-Calculus, Earth Science

and Honors Biology.