State of the Schools Breakfast reflects on Newport-Mesa district’s past
Fred Navarro, Newport-Mesa school district superintendent, speaks at the State of the Schools Breakfast.
The gym floor at Newport Harbor High School had been so uneven that if you threw marbles onto it, they would’ve all collected in the same spot.
This, according to Paul Reed, the Newport-Mesa Unified School Distict’s deputy superintendent and chief business official, made renovating the Newport Beach campus’ gym and putting in a brand new floor there no small task. Workers dug three levels down to ensure the new floor was balanced, he said.
Reed’s reflections about the gym came while an estimated 250 parents, teachers, administrators and students from several Newport-Mesa Unified schools filled the facility during the district’s third annual State of the Schools Breakfast on Monday.
Kelly Blanchfield, Newport Harbor High ASB president, is joined by ASB student ambassadors from all six high schools at the State of the Schools Breakfast.
The event reflected on the past — the district is celebrating its 50th anniversary this school year — and celebrated the present while benefitting the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation and teacher grant program with nearly $12,000.
A glimpse of the past came from Newport Harbor Principal Sean Boulton when he held up a coffee can of Brim — “Remember Brim?” he said — and a vintage milk bottle. Both were found during the gym renovation, though Boulton joked that he couldn’t show all of what was recovered from under the floor.
Sean Boulton, Newport Harbor High School principal, speaks at the State of the Schools Breakfast.
Supt. Fred Navarro said the district has a strong tradition built from its first 50 years. He also highlighted improved test scoring throughout the Newport-Mesa district and gave attention to various academies at high schools.
He also showed a video that featured the district’s past.
The video was shown on a new, state-of-the-art audio-visual system installed by district contribution, said Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley, a former school district board member.
She said it’s great to see the district’s goal of audio-visual upgrades at each school being carried out.
Reed, who is retiring at the end of December, was honored with applause and kind words for his years of service.
Pat Courter, president of the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation, speaks at the State of the Schools Breakfast.
In an interview, Reed said he is proud of his 14-year run with the district, where he oversaw several facility projects, including building Jim Scott Stadium at Estancia High School, the new pool at Costa Mesa High School and new performing arts theaters for Corona del Mar and Mesa.
“It’s been a great run,” Reed said. “I like to build stuff.”
Reed said he has had several people wish him well as he nears retirement.
“People have been incredibly gracious,” he said. “I’m a little embarrassed by it. People want to say, ‘Congratulations!’ I say, ‘Well, all I did was get to the end of the gantlet and I’m still sucking air. But thank you.’”
