NEWPORT-MESA SCHOOL BOARD WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED: Elementary education staff presented a new prototype

for a kindergarten report card that matches state standards. The progress

report card was developed by Newport-Mesa Unified School District

officials and a team of kindergarten teachers. It was field-tested this

year in various classrooms throughout the district. School board members

had reservations about the first section of the progress report, which is

an area for the teacher to indicate if the child is an English-language

learner, in a special day class, or has speech, language or instructional

support.

WHAT IT MEANS:

With the new progress reports, parents will have a much clearer

picture of how their children are doing in school. Bonnie Swann, director

of elementary education for the district, said she would review the

school board’s concerns about the first section of the report card.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“I’m just not comfortable with the indicator of special day class

right at the top,” said trustee Serene Stokes. “How can we diagnose these

kids as such in their first semester of kindergarten?”

WHAT HAPPENED:

The school board gave its final approval to a tentative agreement

between the school district and the Classified School Employees Assn.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Classified employees -- district workers who are not teachers or

administrators -- will see a positive change on their paychecks.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“Congratulations. We know it’s been long-awaited,” said school board

president Dana Black.

VOTE: 7 IN FAVOR / 0 AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

The school board approved the agreement with the state Department of

Education to provide child care and development services to children in

Newport-Mesa.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The agreement continues the grant that funds preschool child care at

Whittier Elementary School.

VOTE: 6 IN FAVOR / 1 ABSTAINED

WHAT HAPPENED:

The school board set a special meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 for a public

hearing on the district’s proposed 2000-01 budget.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The hearing will give residents a chance to voice any objections to

the budget. The board is expected to discuss and approve the final

budget. The board will have its own study session to review the final

budget prior to the public hearing.

VOTE: 7 IN FAVOR / 0 AGAINST

NEXT MEETING:

The school board will meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 22 at the District Education

Center, 2895-A Bear St., Costa Mesa.