SCHOOL BOARD WRAP-UP

Angelique Flores

* Here’s a rundown of some of the action taken at Tuesday’s meetings:

ISSUE: MIDDLE SCHOOL FACILITIES

Vote: No vote

Summary: District architects Paul Westberg and Bonnie White reported

on the status of a proposal to build a gymnasium-auditorium at each of

the four middle schools: Marine View, Mesa View, Spring View and Vista

View.

The new gyms would be available for community use and would each

include two basketball courts, six practice or three full-size volleyball

courts, TaraFlex sports flooring, locker rooms, bleachers, a 40-foot

stage and seating to fit 1,700. If approved, construction could begin

next summer and would be ready for middle school graduation ceremonies in

2002.

Many residents spoke in favor of the new facilities, which have been a

concern to some residents in the school’s neighborhoods.

ISSUE: NEW JOB POSITION

Vote: 4-0, with Trustee Linda Kovach absent

Summary: The board voted to create the new position of professional

assistant to meet the present and future needs of administrative

vacancies.

The assistant principal position at Marine View Middle School remains

open. After interviewing a pool of candidates, district administrators

found no viable candidate. The new position would fill this vacancy.

ISSUE: INSIDE THE OUTDOORS

Vote: 4-0, with Kovach absent

Summary: The board agreed to allow College View, Golden View, Oak View

and Sun View elementary schools to participate in the Inside the Outdoors

school and field programs. The program’s activities concentrate on

geology, history, animal life and plant study of different areas in

Orange County.

ISSUE: OUTDOOR SCHOOL

Vote: 4-0, with Kovach absent

Summary: The board agreed to allow sixth-graders to participate in

environmental instructional programs at Pilgrim Pines, Cedar Crest,

Creekside and Alpine Meadows outdoor schools.

Sixth-grade students will attend either a four- or five-day program in

February, March or May. The camp will offer environmental instruction

for the students.

ISSUE: EXTRA-DUTY PAY

Vote: Postponed

Summary: The board delayed a vote on whether to compensate Supt. James

Tarwater for assuming the responsibilities of the assistant

superintendent of business services since it became vacant July 3. A

proposal calls for the district to reimburse Tarwater $200 a day until

someone is hired for the role. The pay will be retroactive to July 3.

District officials said they expect to fill the position next month.

HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

ISSUE: OUTDOOR SCHOOL

Vote: 5-0

Summary: The board approved the 2000-01 outdoor school contract to

allow Huntington Seacliff and Smith elementary schools to participate in

the outdoor school program at Cedar Crest and Pilgrim Pines sites.

Fifth-grade students will attend a four-day, three-night program that

focuses on teaching the components of an environment, the dynamics of

energy and interdependence between life forms.

ISSUE: PORTABLE CLASSROOMS

Vote: 5-0

Summary: The board agreed to move two portable classrooms from Smith

Elementary School to Huntington Seacliff Elementary School. The portables

are no longer needed at Smith, but are needed at Huntington Seacliff.

ISSUE: PLAYGROUND SAFETY

Vote: 5-0

Summary: The board accepted a bid from Spectra Turf Inc. to remove and

install new playground safety surfaces at all of the district’s schools.

ISSUE: LANGUAGE PROGRAM

Vote: 5-0

Summary: The board agreed the district should apply for funds under

the 2000-01 English Language Acquisition Program. The district could

receive $100 for each student in the fourth through eighth grades who is

identified as an English language learner. The district could receive

$20,500, which would be used to buy new listening equipment and audio

tapes for auditory training.