COSTA MESA / NEWPORT BEACH : Five Schools to Hold Community Forums

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District has announced plans for a series of community forums that will culminate in November with an ambitious education summit.

Supt. Mac Bernd is the driving force behind the meetings, which will be held each Wednesday evening during September and October at various schools in the district.

“It is very important for me to hear and understand what parents, business leaders, senior citizens, employees and interested friends want to achieve through our educational system,” he said.

The title of the forums, “An Evening with Mac,” indicates that they will be informal and that no topic will be out of bounds. One of the meetings will be held in both Spanish and English.

Bernd was hired in June to replace the district’s longtime superintendent, John W. Nicoll, who retired last year citing health reasons. Bernd said that dialogue with the community will help him as the district’s top administrator.

District officials are also seeking volunteers to help plan the education summit, scheduled for Nov. 18. Those interested must complete an application, which can be picked up at the district office at 1601 16th St., Newport Beach.

The schedule of community meetings, each of which will begin at 7 p.m. and last two hours, is as follows:

* Sept. 22 at Costa Mesa High School, 2650 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa.

* Sept. 29 at Corona del Mar High School, 2101 Eastbluff Drive, Newport Beach.

* Oct. 6 (in English and Spanish) at Pomona Elementary School, 2051 Pomona Ave., Costa Mesa.

* Oct. 13 at Estancia High School, 2323 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa.

* Oct. 20 at Newport Harbor High School, 600 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach.

For more information, call (714) 760-3500.