SHORT TAKES:Newport-Mesa to finish review of 36 programs

Last week, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District began a public review of 36 programs to determine whether they were cost-effective and beneficial to students. Administrators gave most of the programs high marks but suggested trimming a few. In other cases, they recommended applying for state funds for the programs so the district could free up more general fund dollars.

The school board got through the first two dozen items on the list last Tuesday and plans to finish the remainder today at a public study session, which begins at 3 p.m.

— Michael Miller