Newport-Mesa school board selects new president
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District board of trustees approved the election of board president Dana Black Tuesday night.
The seven-member group is the governing body for the district.
Black is going into her 18th year as part of the district’s board of education. She was first elected to the board in 1996 as a board member.
Each December, the governing body holds an organizational meeting to approve the election of president and other office positions. Members nominate and vote for who will serve in which roles.
“This is when board members decide on where they’re going, and we figure out who would like to serve in a leadership capacity,” Black said.
The long-time board member said that collaboration with the district’s staff and community members will be one of the board’s highest priorities this year.
“We have great partners, teachers and also parents who donate but also give the most expensive gift, which is their time,” Black said. “When they take the time to sit and talk with us, we get a pulse of what’s happening in the community.”
Black has served as board president at least four times in her years on the board.
The role of the vice president, previously held by Judy Franco, will now be assumed by trustee Karen Yelsey while the role of clerk, previously held by Walt Davenport, will now be assumed by trustee Vicki Snell.
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District consists of 21,800 enrolled students and 32 schools in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.
