School district dedicates center

COSTA MESA — The Newport-Mesa Unified School District had a number of things to be thankful for Monday — including the fact that its last superintendent’s name started with “B.”

At 4 p.m., with more than 100 onlookers present near Rea Elementary School, the district honored its former leader by dedicating the Robert J. Barbot Educational Support Services and Teaching Center — known in its shorter version as the BESST Center, or “best.” Administrators might have strained for a different acronym had Barbot’s name been Jackson or Parker, as “jest” or “pest” wouldn’t quite have fit the bill.

“It’s perfect the way it turned out,” said Susan Astarita, Newport-Mesa’s assistant superintendent of elementary education, shortly before the ribbon-cutting. “He’s the best.”

Orange County Supt. Bill Habermehl, former state Sen. Marian Bergeson and a representative for Assemblyman Van Tran were among those on hand Monday as Newport-Mesa celebrated its new multipart center.

The BESST Center, which opened a month ago, houses Newport-Mesa’s adult education classrooms as well as its clinic, health services and language assessment office.

After Barbot and Bergeson cut the ribbon with a giant pair of scissors, administrators offered tours of the center. Barbot, in his remarks, thanked the district for naming the complex after him, but stressed that creating it had been a communal effort.

“It really is a part of being committed and letting other people show their talents and expertise,” he said.

Becky Bishai, Newport-Mesa’s principal of adult education, noted that the dedication marked the 70th anniversary of the district’s adult program. In her speech, she quoted baseball great Jackie Robinson, who famously said that a life was only important in the impact it had on other lives.

“Dr. Barbot, you had an immeasurable impact on our lives, the lives of our staff members and, most importantly, the lives of our students,” she said.

The school board voted in June to name the center after Barbot, who served as superintendent for eight years before retiring in July. Trustee Martha Fluor said the board had considered other locations for the namesake, but opted for the BESST Center since Barbot was a champion of English-learners and parents.

“He felt strongly about engaging our Hispanic families and getting them more involved in the education of their children,” Fluor said.

The clinic and language assessment office previously resided in a portable near Rea Elementary, while health services operated out of the district headquarters. Rea and the neighboring Boys and Girls Club hosted adult education classes until the new center opened in February.

“We, of course, have grand plans,” Bishai said. “We’ve only been here a month.”