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Newport‑Mesa hears expansion of CTE programs; board approves superintendent contract extension and Bridges provider renewal
Summary
District staff presented growth in career and technical education pathways and internship partnerships; the board approved a one‑year extension to the superintendent's contract and renewed a Bridges/Bridges‑provider contract for Newport Harbor High School amid trustee questions about vendor background.
District leaders presented an update on Career and Technical Education (CTE) and asked the board to support continued growth of pathways, apprenticeships and industry partnerships. The presentation reported an increase to about 127 CTE course sections across 23 high‑school pathways for 2024–25, a new animation pathway at Corona del Mar High School, expanded computer science sections, increased female participation in STEM pathways (the presentation cited "over 512" female students in grades 7–12), and pilot internships with local industry partners including Edwards Life Sciences and UCI Health.
CTE staff described supports for students to enroll in pathways (counselor course selection, Coastline ROP specialists) and plans to align Project Lead The Way (PLTW) engineering curriculum PK–12 across the district. The presentation also announced a college and career fair at the OC Fair and Events Center on Oct. 16 and described work‑based learning and dual‑enrollment efforts with local community colleges.
On action items, the board approved several items during the meeting: the consent calendar passed unanimously; the board approved a third amendment extending the superintendent’s employment agreement by one year following a successful evaluation (motion carried unanimously with one absence); and the board approved a renewal agreement between Groundswell (the Bridges program provider) and Newport Harbor High School for 2024–25 after questions from trustees about past concerns with the vendor and staff composition. Trustees noted the Bridges program has a long history in the district dating to 2002 and argued both for its role in reducing campus racial incidents and for careful oversight of any outside consultants. Trustees recorded the Bridges renewal vote as 5 yays, 1 nay and 1 absent; a $9,000 figure for the contract was referenced during discussion.
Trustees asked staff to clarify who from the vendor provides direct services to students; Superintendent Smith and district staff named Angela Zavala and Ganadeep as regular service providers and said the person of concern mentioned by a trustee does not provide direct student services. Trustee comments ranged from full support of CTE growth and Bridges to requests for due diligence on vendor staff and program safeguards.
The meeting closed with routine superintendent reports on Summer Scholars Academy, facility projects and back‑to‑school preparations for roughly 18,000 students.
