Inside education

WHAT HAPPENED

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education approved a

contract agreement this week with the Newport-Mesa Federation of

Teachers.

WHAT IT MEANS

With the agreement signed, sealed and delivered, teachers will receive

a 9% pay increase. It also will mean the start of several new programs

for teachers, a pay increase of $1 per hour for adult education

employees, a new evaluation process for teachers and changes in the

teacher-transfer policy. The agreement is expected to cost the district

about $5.6 million.

VOTE: Approved, 7-0

WHAT HAPPENED

Board members approved an agreement between the district and

supervisors and confidential employees--anyone whose direct supervisor

negotiates with unions--that will bring their salaries up to the average

for other such employees in Orange County.

WHAT IT MEANS

The agreement is based on the results of an outside study and will

cost the district an estimated $234,000.

VOTE: Approved, 7-0

WHAT HAPPENED

The district’s summer program coordinators made a presentation to the

board detailing their successes.

WHAT IT MEANS

During the summer months, several innovative district programs took

place. For the seventh consecutive year, a summer science camp was held

to make teachers more comfortable with hands-on science projects. Several

student intervention programs debuted this summer to assist children at

risk of being held back a grade. Students identified during the last

school year went to summer school for two weeks to get a jump on the fall

semester. A summer youth expo helped 14- to 21-year-old students find

jobs. Teachers who visited Newport-Mesa’s sister city of Wyndham,

Australia, this summer reported on their trip.

FYI

o7 NEXT MEETINGf7

7 p.m. Sept. 26, District Education Center, 2985-A Bear St., Costa

Mesa.