ON THE AGENDA Here are some of...

ON THE AGENDA

Here are some of the items the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District board of trustees will be discussing tonight.

HONORING RETIREES

The board of trustees will recognize retiring employees for their

contributions and time with the district.

WHAT TO EXPECT

A reception will be held for the 58 administrators, teachers and

staff members who are retiring this year. Their families and friends

will be invited to the reception following a presentation ceremony.

Among those retiring are principals Ken Killian, Barbara Rothman and

Sharon Blakely.

KUDOS ALL AROUND

The board of trustees will hear presentations recognizing

scholarship recipients and other award winners.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The board will recognize eight students as scholarship recipients.

Four eighth-graders will also receive the Norman Stillwell Award

for scholastic, leadership and citizenship achievements. Two students

will receive scholarships through the Newport-Mesa Administrators

Assn., and two students will be awarded the Norman R. Loats and the

Robert L. Wynn scholarships.

The board will also recognize the Lincoln Elementary School

sixth-graders who participated, and received 42 awards, in the Orange

County Academic Pentathlon.

Parents will also receive accolades with the Above and Beyond the

Call of Duty for Education award and recognition for Harbor Council

PTA’s five state awards.

MATERIALS FUNDING

The district will hold a public hearing to determine if each pupil

has sufficient instructional materials. This is required, by state

law, before districts can get money from the state.

WHAT TO EXPECT

This public hearing is part of the Instructional Materials Funding

Realignment Program. Starting in the 1999-2000 fiscal year, school

boards had to follow certain steps outlined in the California

Education Code to receive funds for materials.

Parents, teachers and community members are encouraged in the code

to help determine if students have sufficient textbooks or

instructional materials, or will by the end of the school year. The

resolution submitted will be adopted later in the meeting.

SCHOOL READINESS

The district’s school readiness Health, Opportunities, Preparation

and Education program received an extension on its existing grant,

which will also be renewed. The program focuses on children younger

than 5.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Newport-Mesa’s school readiness plan is part of the Healthy Start

program, funded by Proposition 10 tobacco taxes. The district’s

program initially served children ages 3 through 12 but with a

$50,000 grant expanded to include children from 2 weeks old.

The program will receive an additional $16,750 this year for a

total of $66,750. The additional money will cover a part-time nurse

for the program through the end of this month.

The Children and Families Commission of Orange County is supplying

a $95,000 grant renewal for two years beginning July 1.

Well child exams, immunizations and other health care are provided

to students through the Healthy Start Program.

NEW ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUS

The district’s transportation department received funding from the

California Energy Commission toward purchase of a new bus. The bus is

an energy-efficient vehicle.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The district applied for funds from the commission through

Assembly Bill 35 for the Katz Safe School Bus Clean Fuel Efficiency

Demonstration Program. The commission will fund up to $142,122 of the

cost of the bus.

The bus will meet or exceed current state and federal safety

standards and complies with South Coast Air Quality Management

District rules requiring alternative fuels. The district’s 2004-05

budget has been modified to include facility retrofitting and

mechanic training for California Natural Gas vehicles.