Newport Mesa Unified School

An Orange County school district where varsity athletes threatened to rape and kill the lead actress in a student production of the musical "Rent" has agreed to provide harassment and discrimination prevention training to Corona del Mar High School students, teachers and administrators and other district officials, according to a legal settlement announced Wednesday. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District will also apologize to the former student. Because of the settlement, "no one else will have to go through what I went through," said Hail Ketchum, 17, the victim who, along with family members, identified herself for the first time on Wednesday.

A group of parents in the Newport-Mesa Unified School district asked trustees Wednesday to allow them to open a charter school next fall.

A group of parents in the Newport-Mesa Unified School district asked trustees Wednesday to allow them to open a charter school next fall.

After hearing impassioned pleas from residents, trustees of Newport-Mesa Unified School District this week postponed a decision on whether to sell 18 acres of farmland surrounding Costa Mesa High School. Dozens of parents, neighbors and Costa Mesa High students reiterated their theme: Once the property is gone, it is gone.

More than 100 teachers may be laid off next school year in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, and up to 14 may be dismissed in the Westminster district, officials said Wednesday. The Newport-Mesa Unified school board Tuesday night voted to notify 147 teachers of possible layoffs. State law requires that preliminary notices be issued by March 15 and final notices by May 15.

The Newport-Mesa Unified school board voted Tuesday night to ask residents to pass a $110-million bond issue to repair deteriorating schools--the first measure of its kind in the history of the 35-year-old district. "This sends a message home to students that they are a priority," school board President Dana Black said after the 7-0 vote.

Although State CIF laws prohibit high schools recruiting students, the passage of two California Assembly bills will create something akin to high school free agency. By July, 1994, students statewide will be able to transfer without changing residences. Assembly Bill 1114 requires public school districts to develop open enrollment policies by July.

In the wake of Proposition 227's passage, a former Orange County school superintendent now working in Texas is sending recruiters to Southern California to hire away bilingual teachers. "This is a wonderful opportunity both for the teachers . . . and for this district," Supt. Mac Bernd of the Arlington Independent School District said. He was the top official in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District for four years before moving to Arlington in January.

An Orange County school district where varsity athletes threatened to rape and kill the lead actress in a student production of the musical "Rent" has agreed to provide harassment and discrimination prevention training to Corona del Mar High School students, teachers and administrators and other district officials, according to a legal settlement announced Wednesday. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District will also apologize to the former student. Because of the settlement, "no one else will have to go through what I went through," said Hail Ketchum, 17, the victim who, along with family members, identified herself for the first time on Wednesday.

The Newport-Mesa Unified school board voted Tuesday night to ask residents to pass a $110-million bond issue to repair deteriorating schools--the first measure of its kind in the history of the 35-year-old district. "This sends a message home to students that they are a priority," school board President Dana Black said after the 7-0 vote.

In the wake of Proposition 227's passage, a former Orange County school superintendent now working in Texas is sending recruiters to Southern California to hire away bilingual teachers. "This is a wonderful opportunity both for the teachers . . . and for this district," Supt. Mac Bernd of the Arlington Independent School District said. He was the top official in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District for four years before moving to Arlington in January.

After hearing impassioned pleas from residents, trustees of Newport-Mesa Unified School District this week postponed a decision on whether to sell 18 acres of farmland surrounding Costa Mesa High School. Dozens of parents, neighbors and Costa Mesa High students reiterated their theme: Once the property is gone, it is gone.

Although State CIF laws prohibit high schools recruiting students, the passage of two California Assembly bills will create something akin to high school free agency. By July, 1994, students statewide will be able to transfer without changing residences. Assembly Bill 1114 requires public school districts to develop open enrollment policies by July.

More than 100 teachers may be laid off next school year in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, and up to 14 may be dismissed in the Westminster district, officials said Wednesday. The Newport-Mesa Unified school board Tuesday night voted to notify 147 teachers of possible layoffs. State law requires that preliminary notices be issued by March 15 and final notices by May 15.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District is searching for a district resident to fill a vacancy on its personnel commission. The panel is responsible for employing and promoting nonteaching employees. Its members also hear appeals to disciplinary action. The commission meets on the third Thursday of every month.