INSIDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT Here are some...

INSIDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Here are some decisions and discussions from Tuesday night’s

Newport-Mesa Unified School District meeting:

STRATEGIC PLAN

The board of trustees voted unanimously to approve the final

reading of the 2005-10 strategic plan. The strategic plan provides

guidelines for what the district and its board want to accomplish in

the next five years, in addition to providing a base for district

budgeting.

District administrators, teachers, classified staff, parents,

students and community members participated in group sessions to

discuss ideas and strategies on how to handle various school issues.

Trustee Tom Egan was absent.

WHAT IT MEANS

The district plans to redesign its high schools in terms of

curriculum, scheduling, environment, instruction and community

involvement. A greater emphasis will be put on online classes and

more open scheduling for students. Staff members will also be trained

on the redesigned high school structure, according to the plan.

Board members will attempt to meet students’ needs by expanding

after school and summer programs, by providing greater career

preparation training and by planning to reach the potential of

students with unique needs.

Other notable objectives include maintaining site modernization at

the current level; providing preschool access for all children;

expanding course offerings in visual and performing arts programs;

ensuring greater teacher access to science materials; implementing

greater access to online resources; and increasing training

opportunities for professional development through the creation of a

teacher training center and demonstration school.

PLANS FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Trustees approved principals’ Single Plans for Student Achievement

in one fell swoop after meeting with each of Newport-Mesa’s 23

principals Nov. 16 and 17. The plans gave the board notice as to

individual school needs so they can devise ways to address them.

Some of the plans called for more advanced reading programs for

all schools and, specifically, a continued emphasis on English

Learner programs for Costa Mesa schools.

Three Costa Mesa schools failed to meet statewide progress

standards, and principals equated much of that to the language

barrier.

Board members Tuesday gave each principal kudos for the hard work

in organizing the plans and said they look forward to seeing them

implemented. Trustee Tom Egan was absent.

WHAT IT MEANS

District staff members will work with each school to ensure that

each of the principal’s concerns are addressed. Staff members will

present test data to the board for reassessment as it’s collected,

and new programs will be implemented as needed.