Here are some items the board will...

Here are some items the board will consider tonight:

ST. ANDREW’S PARKING PROPOSAL

Last February, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church submitted a

proposal to Newport Harbor High School, offering to expand the

school’s parking lot by 80 spaces and renovate some of its old

maintenance buildings, in exchange for a lease allowing the church to

share the school’s parking lot for 30 years. Newport Harbor has

suffered from a lack of on-site parking spaces for years, and many

students and neighbors are in favor of expanding the lot. However, a

number of other residents oppose the project, saying that the

construction would cause pollution and make traffic problems in the

area worse.

This evening, the board will vote to adopt a Resolution of Intent

on leasing a portion of Newport Harbor High to St. Andrew’s for

construction. The resolution will require a two-thirds majority to

pass. If the board accepts it, then a second public meeting will be

held on May 10 for a Resolution of Acceptance, which will officially

sanction the agreement between the school and the church.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Board members have voiced few opinions on the St. Andrew’s

proposal, so any predictions for the vote are up in the air. However,

expect residents on both sides to voice strong opinions. The Student

Political Action Committee at Newport Harbor, which organized a town

meeting on the St. Andrew’s issue two weeks ago, has stated plans to

share its official position on the matter tonight. Neighbors in the

Cliff Haven and Newport Heights communities, along with church

members, students and parents, will likely contribute their own final

statements.

PROPOSITION 98 FUNDING

Last year, during a budget crisis, the state Education Coalition

agreed to accept $2 billion less than the amount guaranteed to

California schools under Proposition 98. Early budget proposals this

year indicate that the state plans to withhold another $1.4 billion

in school funds, a move which many educators view as a broken

promise.

Due to budget cuts since 2001, schools across California have

eliminated nurses, counselors, librarians, classroom aides and more

-- a situation many say is worsened by a number of unfunded state

mandates. This evening, the board will vote to adopt a resolution in

support of protecting Proposition 98 funding.

WHAT TO EXPECT

A unanimous vote to approve.

MEASURE A UPDATE

Paul Reed, assistant superintendent of business services for

Newport-Mesa, will give the latest news on the district’s Measure A

updates, a modernization program for the district voters approved in

2000. The $170-million project will renovate 28 of the district’s

campuses.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Administrators and board members say the construction is coming

along smoothly. The district has finished its first two groups of

schools, is currently working on the third group, and plans to start

the fourth group (consisting of Estancia High and Andersen,

Eastbluff, Lincoln, Newport and Victoria elementary schools) this

spring. All construction activity is expected to finish in 2006.

-- Compiled by Michael Miller