College board votes to reduce its pay

The Coast Community College District trustees cut their own pay while asking district employees to do the same as part of an effort to tackle a $3-million budget deficit next fiscal year.

The five trustees unanimously voted Tuesday to cut their monthly stipends, starting in June, by 3% — from $1,059 to $1,027.23. The annual savings would be $1,978.20, according to the district.

“I think what we’re trying to do here is to spread out the pain,” said Trustee Lorraine Prinsky. “For years, we have had retirement incentives, departure incentives — just trying to cope with the budget cuts we have. [There] is a $3-million-plus deficit we’re facing, and we don’t want to lay anyone off.”

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Daigle receives warning letter from state

State Assembly candidate Leslie Daigle was one several Orange County officials to receive a warning letter from a state agency detailing their infringement of a state ethics law.

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) told the Newport Beach councilwoman that she violated government code by voting to appoint herself to a paid position on an outside board or commission. Daigle’s letter was supplied to the Daily Pilot on Thursday by Bob Rush, a Democrat and community activist who is one of several candidates running against her for the 74th District seat.

The letter, addressed to Daigle’s legal counsel, states that the investigation is now closed because Daigle and her attorney cooperated and “made every attempt to reduce the public harm as a result of the violation as soon as it was known … ”

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Holiday shows are at Newport libraries

Teachers union vote denounces Hubbard

COSTA MESA — The overwhelming majority of Newport-Mesa Unified teachers have no confidence in their embattled superintendent, according to a vote announced Thursday night by the teachers union.

Ballots sent out Oct. 20 to the teachers in the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers showed 91.2% voted no confidence in Jeffrey Hubbard, union officials confirmed.

Of the 959 members, 379 participated — a nearly 40 percent voter turnout.

“We hope the school board will pay attention that 90% of the teachers have no confidence in our superintendent,” said union President Kimberly Claytor. “It’s a sad thing. I don’t mean it’s sad that they have no confidence, it’s sad about the whole scenario.”

At the federation’s Costa Mesa office, unions officials counted the ballots, with PTA members overseeing the process for accuracy.

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Man charged with attempting to kill infant

COSTA MESA — A 24-year-old man was allegedly caught on video attempting to kill his 2-month-old son by shaking, punching and swinging him by the neck with a blanket, authorities said.

Joshua Allen Robey, who was living in a Costa Mesa motel, was charged with felony attempted murder, torture and child abuse with a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury to a child under 5 years old.

If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison.

Robey is expected to be arraigned Friday. The Orange County District Attorney plans to ask that he be held ona $1 million bond.

Robey, according to prosecutors, was babysitting his two-year-son Oct. 18 in the Anaheim home of his girlfriend and her mother.

The defendant didn’t realize his girlfriend had set-up a hidden camera because she believed he was cheating on her.

Robey was allegedly caught on video wrapping a blanket around his son’s neck like a noose and then swinging the infant around by the blanket for more than a minute.

The father allegedly put the baby back down to punch him in the chest, slap him, shake him in the air and grab the baby by the throat.

The baby is in the hospital and the extent of his injuries are unknown.

—Britney Barnes

Teachers’ union calls for no-confidence vote for Hubbard

The Newport-Mesa teachers’ union is calling for vote of no confidence from all its members to reaffirm a vote taken Wednesday for the district’s embattled superintendent, an official confirmed.

The Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers members unanimously voted no confidence in Supt. Jeffrey Hubbard at its meeting Wednesday and sent out ballots to all 1,000 of its members Thursday to reaffirm the vote, said union President Kimberly Claytor.

About 60 union school site representatives and members voted at Wednesday’s meeting

“This is a sad day for me personally and a sad day for the Newport-Mesa community,” Claytor said.

Claytor met with Hubbard on Thursday morning to tell him of the vote in person.

Hubbard and school district spokeswoman Laura Boss couldn’t be immediately reached Friday.

Hubbard, 54, is awaiting trial for three felony charges of misappropriation of funds while at his previous post as head of the Beverly Hills Union School District.

He was charged with the first two counts in December and the Los Angeles district attorney got a grand jury indictment for the third charge this month.

“The multiple felony counts Jeffrey Hubbard is on trial for have been, and will continue to be, a distraction that hinders his job performance,” according to the union’s resolution.
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‘Glee’ star Lauren Potter to visit O.C.

Newport salutes Ronny

NEWPORT BEACH — Sunday’s unveiling at Bonita Canyon Sports Park of a statue of Ronald Reagan drew many residents, but one local couple stood in silent protest behind the late president’s throng of admirers.

During the Newport Beach Ronald Reagan Centennial Memorial Dedication, city residents Kirby and Gina Piazza held up signs expressing their opposition to the statue’s presence.

“Reagan: Against civil rights since 1964” and “Keith Curry’s Golden Calf statue not welcome in Newport,” their signs read.

Meanwhile, county, state and congressional representatives joined City Council members at the dedication for the memorial to the Republican Party icon.

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Newport-Mesa school board seeks to repeal contentious law

COSTA MESA — The Newport-Mesa Unified school board on Tuesday night approved a resolution urging legislators to repeal part of a contentious state law that stops districts from laying off teachers this year.

The bill also removes the requirement for districts to prove that they can meet their financial obligations for more than one year.

“It is an effort on the part of schools’ boards … to retain local control,” said Trustee Judy Franco.

The resolution was approved, 6-1, with Trustee Katrina Foley dissenting.

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Andersen students, faculty celebrate top API scor

NEWPORT BEACH — The words of Andersen Elementary School’s cheer rang true Friday morning at the first flag deck of the year.

“Red, white and blue. It’s learning that we do. Red, white and blue. Hooray, hooray for you,” sang students dressed in red, white and blue wearing similarly patriotic-colored beaded necklaces.

The teachers also joined in, some with sparkly red and blue stars sticking off headbands and clutching blue and white pom poms.

Parents, students and teachers gathered on the blacktop to celebrate the school’s 16-point gain on the 2011 Academic Performance Index, or API, that boosted the Newport Beach elementary to the highest scoring school in the school district.

“We’re just very excited,” Principal Laura Vlasic said. “I am so proud of the students, staff and the parents. It really takes a team approach. Everybody collectively came together and our focus is on learning — and it really showed.”

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