District meets for Program Improvement discussion
The principals of Newport-Mesa Unified’s 11 underperforming schools will meet with the board of education Tuesday to discuss how to improve each campus.
The school board scheduled a special meeting at 4 p.m. to talk about possible solutions at campuses on the Westside and in other sections of Costa Mesa that lag behind their counterparts on the Eastside and in Newport Beach.
“This is the time for the board to just get together and talk about the issues we want to talk about,” said board President Dave Brooks.
Costa Mesa and Estancia high schools, TeWinkle Middle School and Adams, College Park, Rea, Killybrooke, Paularino, Pomona, Whittier and Wilson elementary schools are in Program Improvement, according to the state Department of Education.
To be in Program Improvement, schools must have missed annual progress benchmarks required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act for two consecutive years.
The school board has already heard from district staff on possible programs to help pull the schools out of Program Improvement, including a dual-language program and extended school days.
The meeting is meant to give the people on the ground floor a chance to weigh in before the board decides to take any action, Brooks said.
This is the first time the board will meet for a discussion meeting, and it should be the first of many, Brooks said.
The idea for a discussion meeting came out of a district-hosted, full-day governance workshop the board attended in March.
Twitter: @britneyjbarnes
If You Go
What: Newport-Mesa Unified Board of Education special meetingWhen: 4 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Roderick H. MacMillian Board Room in the District Education Center, 2985 Bear St., Costa Mesa
Information: To see the full agenda go to https://www.nmusd.us.