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Newport-Mesa board approves renewed OC GRIP contract after heated debate, 5–2
Summary
After public opposition and trustee proposals to scale the program, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board voted 5–2 to approve a renewal agreement with the Orange County District Attorney—s Office to facilitate the OC GRIP Waymakers case manager component for the 2025-26 school year; the DA offered to work with an ad hoc committee to refine the model.
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District board voted to approve a renewal agreement with the Orange County District Attorney—s Office to facilitate the OC GRIP Waymakers case manager component for the 2025-26 school year, after an extended public comment period and a contentious trustee debate.
Trustees adopted the contract on a 5— vote after a substitute motion to limit the program to two sites failed to move forward. Student board member Jeremy Lore moved to approve the renewal as presented; Trustees Weigand, Murphy, Pearson, McElroy and Crane joined him in voting yes, while Trustees Ersoylu and Anderson voted no.
The contract as written lists three elementary sites (Wilson, Ray and Whittier) for GRIP services. Community speakers at the meeting urged the board to reject or limit the program. Andy Godinez, a Newport-Mesa alumnus and Westside Costa Mesa resident, said he opposed placing…
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