COSTA MESA

In an effort to bring stability to transient families, a school for homeless children has been approved by the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. District officials are trying to meet the ambitious goal of opening the doors at Rea Elementary School soon after spring break.

The effort was led by Mike Murphy, principal of education and student services, after he and Supt. Robert Barbot toured the Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter late last year. What they found was a small group of children who, because they did not have permanent addresses, were not able to enroll in school. Murphy and others have been working to get funding for the program. Bids are being accepted for renovation of the room that will be used at Rea Elementary School.

The district plans to run the school like an old-fashioned one-room schoolhouse, with a mixture of ages and grades under one teacher. Interfaith Shelter Director Sheri Barrios praised the program and said Newport-Mesa is a pioneer in its effort to educate homeless children.