Educators approve retirement budgets

The Newport-Mesa Board of Education approved an early-retirement incentive budget of up to $150,000 at its Tuesday meeting to benefit those who give early notice of their retirement.

The program is limited to employees considering retirement at the end of the current school year; it would give up to $1,200 for each full-time worker who gives retirement notice by Jan. 15.

There will be a cap on the number of participants in the first-come, first-served program.

The district also approved an agreement to provide confidential student data to the Orange County Department of Education in order to receive grant funds for Davis, Pomona and Whittier elementary schools.

The schools are participating in a study to judge the effectiveness of spatial-temporal math, in which students participate in an electronic, self-paced math program.

The grant requires school districts to provide data about how classes use the program, as well as school and district performance.

In addition, the district adopted a resolution to encourage participation in 2010 Census in Schools Week, from March 1 to 5.

The census counts residents to identify where to allocate more than $100 billion in federal funds to states, and ensures even congressional representation.

The district will use the week to reinforce how important it is to participate in the census.

— Candice Baker