District to discuss Signature Academies, teacher negotiations

Student admission policies and publicity for a series of Signature Academies are set for discussion in a study session Tuesday by the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board.

The academies, approved last fall, will add and expand programs in the arts, science and other areas within a group of schools, or zones. With the academies, for example, Costa Mesa High — which is in the Costa Mesa zone — will see an expansion of its Delta program, which focuses on math, science and technology.

The idea is to allow students to specialize in a specific subject from kindergarten through graduation and attract students whose parents might send them to schools outside the district.

Students will initially be exposed to the programs in their zone’s elementary schools. As they move through junior high and into high school, they will have the option to take classes that relate to the zone’s academy, ultimately working up to a final project.

The district has discussed in the past whether to allow transfers between schools for students interested in attending an academy outside their home school.

During its regular meeting, the board will consider an offer by the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers to open contract negotiations. One of the union’s initial requests is to provide all elementary teachers with guaranteed equitable time to prepare lesson plans. The current union contract expires June 30, 2017.

Trustees will also vote on whether to accept a $258,735 increase in reimbursements from the state for preschool programs. The state preschool program, funded by the California Department of Education, provides preschool for 576 qualifying children at eight elementary schools in the district.

The 4 p.m. study session and 6 p.m. regular meeting will be held in the district office at 2985-A Bear Street in Costa Mesa.

— Staff writer Hannah Fry contributed to this report.