Robert Barbot

Robert Barbot leads the way he lives. Puerto Rican-born and California-bred, Barbot has spent his life reaping the cultural benefits of his Latino and white worlds. Bilingual and bicultural, Barbot is the product of a hard-working family that lived in an East Los Angeles housing project until his parents could afford middle-class suburban living.

Robert Barbot leads the way he lives. Puerto Rican-born and California-bred, Barbot has spent his life reaping the cultural benefits of his Latino and white worlds. Bilingual and bicultural, Barbot is the product of a hard-working family that lived in an East Los Angeles housing project until his parents could afford middle-class suburban living.

Barbara Harrington became the seventh principal to leave the district this year, adding Adams Elementary in Costa Mesa to the list of six Newport-Mesa schools lacking top administrators. Harrington announced her resignation Friday. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District advertised openings for principals at elementary and middle schools in professional journals this week, Supt. Robert Barbot said. The application deadline is Aug. 28.

Less than 48 hours before classes begin, school board members Tuesday night unanimously approved a $120-million balanced budget for the 1999-2000 school year. Though the district is expected to bring in $118.6 million next year while spending $120 million, Mike Fine, assistant superintendent for business services, assured board members that the budget contains no deficit. "You are absolutely in the black," he said. Last spring, after revealing that the district faced a $4.

For months, a black substance has been dripping from air-conditioning units at Andersen Elementary School onto floors, desks and even students' heads. Decrying what he called the negligence of Newport-Mesa Unified in addressing the problem, Craig Levine, a senior at Newport Harbor High School who sits on the board and whose sister attends Andersen, asked trustees recently to fix the problem: "I'd like to go on record saying I'm a little upset that nothing has been done."