District approves high school-college combo The Newport-Mesa...

District approves high school-college combo

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District board voted unanimously

to approve a proposal for an Early College High School to open in

2006.

At the board’s meeting on Wednesday, members gave permission to

the project’s administrators to apply to the Foundation for

California Community Colleges for a $400,000 grant. Newport-Mesa

student services director Mike Murphy and Coastline Community College

general education dean Ed Decker plan to use the grant money to help

outline the project this fall and open the school the following year.

The money from the college foundation -- which is sponsored by the

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation -- would cover only a portion of

the project, with the school and college districts splitting the

other costs. Right now, Decker said, he and Murphy are gathering

support letters from district officials to send with the application

next week.

The Early College High School, administered by Newport-Mesa and

the Coast Community College District, would allow students to

graduate in five years or less with a diploma and an associate in

arts degree. Murphy said the school would benefit students who need

an extra boost to attend college.

Water issues group completes program

Mesa Consolidated Water District this week graduated the 2005

class of its Water Issues Study Group.

The Water Issues Study Group was started in 1986 in an effort to

educate interested members of the community on local, regional and

state water issues. Participants of the program learn about the

history of water, hear guest speakers and take tours of the water

district’s wells, reservoirs and emergency-operations centers during

the six-month program.

The annual adult-education program is held every third Thursday of

the month at 7 p.m. January through June.

Graduates of the Water Issues Study Group receive certificates of

completion and status in Mesa’s Water Issues Study Group Alumni

Program, which offers continued opportunities to participate in water

education and activities.