ON THE AGENDA Here are some of...

ON THE AGENDA

Here are some of the items the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District board of trustees will be discussing tonight.

STRATEGIC PLAN

The board of trustees will review information on the strategic

plan that will map out the next five years. The original plan was

formed for 1999-2004.

WHAT TO EXPECT

District officials have met with community members over the last

four months to evaluate the past strategic plan, make adjustments and

create a new one. The strategic plan covers issues like educational

access, special needs students, campus safety and English as a second

language.

At a recent study session, board members identified many of the

same areas of need as they did in the previous plan, including adding

more arts and music instruction to school classrooms. After more

evaluation, the board will seek more public input on a draft plan and

vote on a final one in October.

INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES

Trustees will vote on whether to approve waiver requests for the

next school year from eight schools. The schools are asking the state

to allow them to have a different number of instructional minutes

than the state requires.

WHAT TO EXPECT

School districts must request permission from the state for any

deviation from the recommended plan. These waivers for the next

school year involve changes in instructional minutes for staff

development, meetings and curriculum coordination.

Rea Elementary School is asking to reassign a teacher to increase

the teacher-to-student ratio. Lincoln Elementary School is asking to

change the instructional minutes, as are several other schools.

Orange Coast Middle College High School is requesting that it be

allowed to align its academic calendar with Orange Coast College.

Trustees will likely approve the changes from what the state

recommends.