Newport-Mesa Unified board meeting, date not confirmed yet

1 h 22 min · 6 public speakers

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 1 h 22 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
  2. Krista WeigandMember
  3. Lisa PearsonClerk
  4. Leah ErsoyluPresident
  5. Carol CraneMember
  6. Ashley AndersonMember
What happened

What happened at this meeting

Newport-Mesa board approves four board policies and waives second reading 1:05:46

  • A district staff member introduced two new principals and a new Director of Facilities, Athletics, and Performing Arts Operations. 7:06
  • Trustees discussed the district's strategic plan for 2026 to 2031, and one board member proposed wording changes to the Portrait of a Graduate section and the use of fund development in place of fundraising. 33:51
  • Carol Crane moved to approve the strategic plan as edited at the meeting. 45:45
  • The board approved four board policies after Krista Weigand moved to approve all 4 and waive the second reading. 1:05:46

Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →

Item by item (13)
  1. Opening and agenda adoption 0:02
    • The superintendent asked for a technical amendment to item C9 because assistant principals had been listed at the wrong sites. 0:30
    • Krista Weigand moved to adopt the agenda with the technical amendment. 1:18
  2. Closed session public comment 1:54
    • Lisa Pearson read the rules for public comment on closed session agenda items. 2:00
    • A speaker at public comment described vernal pools and said a federal critical habitat area for the San Diego fairy shrimp of 14 acres extends partly onto school district property. 4:35
    • The board recessed to closed session on real property negotiations, the superintendent's evaluation and labor negotiations. 5:18
  3. Return to open session and minutes 5:47
    • The meeting was called to order at 6:13, and Krista Weigand led the Pledge of Allegiance. 5:47
    • The board held a roll call vote on adoption of the minutes. 6:26
  4. Introduction of new staff 6:57
    • A district staff member introduced the new principal of Teewinkle Middle School, who brings over 25 years of educational experience. 7:06
    • The staff member introduced the new principal of Newport Harbor High School, who has more than 30 years of educational experience. 9:24
    • The staff member introduced a former Newport Harbor High School principal as the new Director of Facilities, Athletics, and Performing Arts Operations. 12:21
  5. Public comment on non-agenda items 14:43
    • A speaker at public comment described a free reading challenge for K through 12th grade students and an astronaut event on September 19th. 15:29
    • Another speaker described a bicycle safety platform that would let authorized staff document unsafe riding and assign additional safety education. 19:43
    • Another speaker proposed placing publicly accessible naloxone cases at all 9th through 12th grade schools, and a further speaker said the district's statement on multiculturalism should be clarified to include assimilation. 21:41
  6. Superintendent comments 27:02
    • The superintendent said staff would reach out about the reading challenge and said the bike safety app has applications for schools and families. 27:09
    • The superintendent said the naloxone proposal had been put in front of the district team and said the district may need to look beyond 9 to 12. 27:09
    • The superintendent said the district's diversity is its strength. 27:09
  7. Consent calendar 30:42
    • Carol Crane recused from item 16A10, a lease amendment with Save Our Youth Center, citing service on that organization's board of directors. 31:37
    • One board member said they serve on a CHIAC advisory body tied to item B18 but said recusal was not needed because it is a no-cost contract. 32:10
  8. Credential waiver for driver's education 32:57
    • A speaker presented a credential waiver for a teacher at Monte Vista High School for secondary driver's education and said there is not currently a program available for that credential. 33:07
  9. District strategic plan 33:51
    • A speaker at public comment said the plan has no definition of equity or metric to measure it and asked that existing systems such as school site councils be supported. 34:15
    • A staff member said that after the board establishes the strategic plan, staff will bring strategic actions to the board with metrics, accountability and definitions. 37:36
    • One board member proposed removing a repeated reference to problem solving and replacing fundraising with fund development, and another board member asked whether everyone was okay with the changes. 39:18
  10. Board policy revisions 46:15
    • A staff member presented revisions to policies 1100, 1114, 9150 and 5148.3, saying the preschool policy was a whole new version because of legislation. 48:03
    • A staff member said the policy provides for one student board member for each site, with a term of one year, and includes language on alternates and vacancies. 55:33
    • One board member said they were not in favor of approving diverse policies in one motion but was fine approving them that night. 1:00:38
    • The board approved the four policies and waived the second reading. 1:05:46
  11. Authorization of signatures resolution 1:06:12
    • A staff member said the district is required annually to notify the Orange County Department of Education of who can sign documents. 1:06:35
  12. Superintendent report 1:07:14
    • The superintendent said July 1st, 2026, marked the 60th anniversary of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. 1:07:19
    • The superintendent recognized the departing Assistant Superintendent of Special Services, who served 10 years in the district. 1:08:22
  13. Board member reports 1:10:38
    • Two board members thanked the departing assistant superintendent, and they said the superintendent evaluation was a positive and productive way forward. 1:12:31
    • Carol Crane described visiting summer school classrooms at Lincoln and Wilson and the addition of high school peer tutors. 1:16:00
    • Krista Weigand described a pier jump that raises funds for the district's swim program, and the meeting adjourned at 7:29. 1:18:06

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.