COSTA MESA/NEWPORT BEACH : Schools to Consider Technology Plan

After a seven-month delay caused by Orange County’s bankruptcy filing, a technology program for schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District will likely be adopted today. School trustees will review a master plan to infuse information technology into the school curriculum.

Under a preliminary plan, a comprehensive computer network system would link the 26 schools in the district with district offices, libraries and the Internet, giving students access to global databases.

Secondary school library materials would be catalogued electronically and get electronic check-out systems, and all schools would be hooked up to cable television for instructional programming.

Among other recommendations outlined by the Technology Committee, formed in September, 1994, the school district would reorganize its Management Information Services department and hire staff to coordinate implementing the master plan.

Though the plan is still preliminary, the committee has recommended that trustees start laying the foundations of the project by approving $227,000 to get started.

“We are asking for money to help bring staff on board who will assist in completing the plan and be the driving force in implementing it,” said Bruce Crockard, Lincoln Elementary School principal and chairman of the Newport-Mesa Technology Committee.

If the trustees approve the recommendations, district officials said, they would begin purchasing some of the equipment.

Trustees will meet today at 7 p.m. in the Harper Community Center, 425 E. 18th St., Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 760-3500.