INSIDE THE DISTRICT Here are some decisions...

INSIDE THE

DISTRICT

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

Unified School District meeting.

MEASURE A CONSTRUCTION

PW Construction, contractors at Harbor View, Mariners and Newport

Heights elementary schools, have revised construction estimates

upward.

WHAT IT MEANS

At Harbor View, which has been beset with problems such as dry rot

and termite damage, the cost of construction has gone from $3.2

million to $3.6 million. At Mariners and Newport Heights, which were

part of a package bid, the project cost has gone from $2.6 million at

each school to $2.9 million at Mariners and $2.8 million at Newport

Heights.

SINGLE PLAN FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT 2003-04

District kindergarten- through 12th-grade schools annually submit

and revise plans based on study of performance data from the previous

year.

WHAT IT MEANS

Plans for each school include:

* a clear focus for the year;

* strategies based upon research and identified by the school

community;

* whole learning communities in a learning experience to generate

new knowledge and improved teaching skills; and

* a belief in continuous improvements, which are not designed to

accomplish a few set goals and then be retired.

API AWARDS -- EXPENDITURE PLANS

The state Legislature approved incentive plans that money to

eligible schools that meet or exceed Academic Performance Index

scores. Two of three programs have been cut because of state budget

problems.

WHAT IT MEANS

Twenty-two Newport-Mesa schools will receive $36.88 for each

student who received a valid test score on the Stanford 9 and

California Standards tests. An additional $42 may be apportioned at a

later date. Awards vary from $2,567 for Paularino Elementary to

$126,407 for Newport Harbor High. College Park Elementary has

submitted an expenditure plan to use the money for an outdoor sound

system, CD players, televisions, VCRs and listening centers.