INSIDE THE DISTRICT Here are decisions coming...

INSIDE THE DISTRICT

Here are decisions coming out of Tuesday night’s Newport-Mesa

Unified School District meeting.

2002-2003 FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORT AND 2003-2004 FIRST PERIOD AUDIT

REPORT

The California Education Code requires that school boards do an

annual audit of funds and interim reports about its financial

solvency.

WHAT IT MEANS

The board received the independent auditors’ report from Vavrinek,

Trine, Day & Co., which did the assessment for the period ending June

30. The audit found that the district’s funds had been presented

fairly with no major discrepancies.

Paul Reed, assistant superintendent of business services, also

presented the first period interim report, which covered the period

ending Oct. 31. That report is meant to show if the district can pay

its bills now and the foreseeable future, based on current knowledge.

The budget has no major problems, Reed reported, and the district

has been able to keep a 3% reserve of funds. The only major budget

changes came from new funding grants for special projects.

Until Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget comes out, however,

nothing is for sure.

WHAT THEY SAID

“We recognize that there is a great deal of uncertainty at the

state level,” Reed said. “Based on the information available to us,

we can meet our obligations this year and coming two years. But then

the state can come along and overturn the chess board.”

VOTE

6 to 0 to receive the financial audit, with Tom Egan abstaining,

and 7 to 0 to receive the interim report.

ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

The board voted on new officers and representatives for different

committees. They also set meeting dates for the next year.

WHAT IT MEANS

Clerk Serene Stokes moved up to vice president, while former vice

president Dana Black was elected president for the second time. Board

member David Brooks was elected as the new clerk.

Stokes represents Corona del Mar; Black represents Eastside Costa

Mesa and Newport Heights; and Brooks represents the northwestern end

of Costa Mesa. Black was one of the original group of parents who in

1992 helped uncover a $3.5-million embezzlement by Stephen Wagner,

who was the district’s budget director.

Black, who has been a trustee since 1996, said that right now,

she’s worried about losing money to another source -- the state and

its potential budget cuts.

The board also set the meeting dates for the next year, which will

take place the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7 p.m.

WHAT THEY SAID

“My first priority is to be on top of Sacramento,” Black said.

“Another one of my top, and the board’s top priorities is finding

ways to complete Measure A work from each zone.”

VOTE

7 to 0 for each appointment