NEWPORT-MESA SCHOOL BOARD WRAP-UP:

-- Danette Goulet

Highlights from Tuesday’s meeting:

* ISSUE: The addition of four new high school-level courses.

* ACTION: Approved, 7-0.

* SUMMARY: The director of curriculum and assessment for Newport-Mesa,

Peggy Anatol, brought four courses before the board for approval:

Advanced Placement French Literature, Advanced Placement Latin

Literature, Television/Video Production and a revised Health and Driver

Education.

“Twice a year, we go to the board with new courses and materials,” Anatol

said. “These are the courses staff members at different schools requested

this year.”

This semester, a Corona del Mar High School teacher asked for advanced

French, Newport Harbor High School requested advanced Latin and Costa

Mesa wanted to begin a television/video production course.

Once the school board approves courses, they can be used at any school in

the district, not just the school that requested them, Anatol said.

The board also approved 19 high school-level textbooks and two

intermediate-level textbooks that will be put on 30-day display in

Anatol’s office.

* ISSUE: Facilities master plan update.

* ACTION: None taken.

* SUMMARY: The board was updated on the progress of the facilities

committee, including the new figures put together by the architect.

The new estimate for repairing the deteriorating schools is $163 million.

The board was informed that this does not include work needed on leased

properties or necessary repairs to the district building at Baker and

Bear streets.

One other minor addition will be teaching walls at the secondary level.

The facilities subcommittee continues to meet to decide how these repairs

will be funded. The facilities committee will meet again on Dec. 16.

* ISSUE: Board meeting schedule.

* ACTION: Approved, 7-0.

* SUMMARY: The board voted to cancel a regular school board meeting

scheduled on Dec. 28, for the holidays.