NEWPORT-MESA SCHOOL BOARD WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

Mike Fine, assistant superintendent of business services, updated the

board and the public on various legislative bills that were passed or

vetoed since the Legislative session closed Aug. 31.

WHAT IT MEANS:

While none of the bills are particular to Newport-Mesa, Fine informed

the board that 16 bills were passed, including a bill revising the age of

admission to kindergarten by one month. In 2004, a child would have to be

5 years old before Sept. 1 to enter kindergarten. Other bills passed

included the pupil discipline bill that authorizes school officials to

require a child to perform community service as part of a disciplinary

action, and seven teacher retirement bills.

Bills that failed to pass included the part-time playground bill,

which would have required all part-time playground positions to be

included as part of classified services, and a bill that would have

extended the notice required for layoff of classified employees.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The school board recognized and honored the armed services veterans of

the Korean War with a reception, certificate of recognition and a

resolution that schools would remember those veterans each day during the

month of September.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Those veterans who risked their lives and the men and women who died

in the Korean War were remembered and honored by the students, teachers

and administrators of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. Members

of the Freedom Committee of Orange County accepted the honor on behalf of

all veterans who served in the armed forces during the Korean War.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The school board was introduced to Judith Chambers, the new principal

at Newport Heights Elementary School, and Rebecca Gogel, who will be the

new assistant principal at Estancia High School.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Chambers comes to Newport-Mesa from the Eden Prairie School District,

in Eden Prairie, Minn., where she was the principal at a fifth- and

sixth-grade school.

Gogel is moving down the hall in the Estancia administrative offices,

where she has served as a counselor to students for several years.

NEXT MEETING:

7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the District Education Center, 2985-A Bear Street,

Costa Mesa.