School district plans for 2008

Newport-Mesa school board members say the district is primed for change.

“We have a lot of goals as usual,” said vice president Dana Black. “Our infrastructure is well on its way, it’s time to seize the moment.”

With teachers’ salaries negotiated, many schools scoring above state and federal testing standards, others edging toward compliance and special education’s overhaul in its final phase, board members are finding other projects to take on.

“I think our job is oversight, to make sure the kids get their education and the parents get the best bang for their buck,” said board member Michael Collier.

One way members plan to get the most out of students is introducing non-traditional subjects in high school in 2008.

“We just don’t offer a lot of options to a lot of kids in high school, and I think we can do a lot more. Testing and exit exams take away from children learning about all their choices in life,” Black said.

Board member Walt Davenport agreed.

Classes about technical careers may spark interest in students not usually excited in traditional subjects, Davenport said. District staff members are exploring choices with a regional occupation program, he said.

“I think we’re moving away under [Supt. Jeff] Hubbard’s leadership from an era of compliance to an era of being compliant and ‘let’s be creative about it,’” said board president Martha Fluor.

Black said Newport-Mesa’s regular high schools should imitate successes at Back Bay and Monte Vista high schools, particularly with regard to connections between teachers and students.

“Now only to take it on a grand scale is what I believe can happen. We just have to figure out a way to fit it in the day,” Black said. “It’s pretty grandiose, but doable.”

Newport-Mesa faces state funding cuts in 2008, Davenport said. The district receives minimal state funding because of local property-tax revenues.

“We will be losing some funds. To what extent and to which particular programs I have no idea,” he said. “I’m not looking forward to dealing with the budget. That’s never pleasant when someone takes money away from you.”

Addressing parents’ complaints in special education and reconfiguring school grade levels and enrollment areas will remain priorities for the board too, board members said.

“If we get all those done this year, it’ll be a good year,” said board member David Brooks.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.