SOUNDING OFF:

For the 2009-10 school year, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District is establishing a kindergarten- through-sixth-grade magnet school at Davis School.

After 10 years or more of various groups asking for a charter school, a magnet school, or a similar type of program in Newport-Mesa, the school board thinks an alternative type of school open to anyone in the school district is needed.

I attended a focus meeting last week to discuss the two types of magnet schools under consideration:

1) science/tech/math, or

2) creative arts/visual and performing arts.

Either school would include all regular areas of academic instruction required by the state, but would have a higher emphasis on whichever theme is picked; that emphasis would be embedded in the curriculum in addition to many after-school options and bonus activities.

After a general discussion, the meeting was broken down into four subgroups so that everyone would have an opportunity to address their interests and concerns.

We then reconvened into one larger group to continue the discussion on the two types of schools.

All ideas were documented for staff and school board members. This meeting format will be continued at the fourth and last meeting today.

Some of the points of discussion included:

•Emphasis on particular subjects at each type of magnet school. (See detailed list on the school district’s website, web.nmusd.us/, of what might be emphasized under each type of magnet school.)

•Criteria for student selection.

•Desirability of a parent contract for accountability.

•Type of student assessment.

•Homework load.

District representatives assured the audience that for students attending this magnet school, there would be a continuation of this same type of program in a designated junior high and high school. So in the long run you could have a school within a school at the junior high and high school level with the same students, same high standards and same emphasis.

I feel confident the school district will make this an exceptional school and will seek an outstanding principal and staff; certainly such a school will allow Newport-Mesa residents an additional choice of the type of school they would like their children to attend.

I urge anyone interested in this type of school to attend the last focus meeting to discuss the two types of magnet schools at 1:30 p.m. today in Davis Auditorium (behind Costa Mesa High School).

MARTIE O’MEARA lives in Costa Mesa and is a teacher.