Newport-Mesa officials celebrate student gains, partnerships and launch districtwide swim-safety program at State of the Schools breakfast

Newport-Mesa Unified School District leaders on Thursday used their annual State of the Schools breakfast at Estancia High School to tout academic gains, spotlight community partnerships and announce new programs intended to expand students’ opportunities and safety.

Board President Krista Weigand framed the event as both a celebration and a call to action, saying the board’s work centers on students. “The heart of our work is and will always be our children,” Weigand said, introducing district officials and community partners who support classroom grants and extracurricular programs.

Superintendent Dr. Wesley Smith highlighted measurable improvements the district says students have made this year, citing higher test scores, increased Advanced Placement participation and a 97% graduation rate for all students. “We are going to be the best district in the state of California, by any metric you choose,” Dr. Smith said, describing the results as the product of intentional partnerships among schools, families and local organizations.

The district presented a video detailing a new after-school swim and water-safety program designed to teach students basic swimming and water-safety skills. The program — described in the video as including facility tours, personalized swim assessments, transportation and swim gear — aims to expand access to aquatic opportunities for students who previously had little or no experience in the water.

District leaders also spotlighted career and technical education (CTE) pathways and internships that connect students to local employers, and said 1,300 students participated in the district’s extended learning programs this year. Students and staff highlighted competitive successes, including regional recognition and CIF championships in athletics, as well as individual awards and scholarship support.

The Newport Mesa Schools Foundation, which supports teacher grants and classroom projects, reported it had raised about $60,000 toward a $100,000 goal and acknowledged sponsors who support the foundation’s Grama to Teachers program. Foundation leaders and union representatives asked attendees to continue supporting educators; Rhonda Reed, president of the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, noted that California teachers regularly spend their own money for classroom needs and thanked foundation donors for helping offset those costs.

Organizers also gave examples of community outreach: a district kickoff event that district speakers said supplied roughly 1,700 pairs of shoes and supported more than 2,100 families, and scholarship funds the district said total millions of dollars (speakers referenced $2,500,000 and also noted the figure may have been misquoted during remarks).

Leaders announced the launch of a districtwide strategic-planning process and invited community members to participate. The program closed with remarks from student ASB leaders stressing the role of student activities and reminding attendees that donations to ASB programs fund student events.

No formal board actions or votes were recorded at the event; remarks and program details were presented for information and fundraising.