Costa Mesa High School

Costa Mesa High School's marching band and its supporters are reeling from allegations that more than $40,000 was stolen from the Band Boosters Club. Mesa's marching band and color guard were stunned to learn that club treasurer Jennifer Border-Piatti, 50, was arrested Oct. 25 on suspicion of embezzling from the club, said band member Jennifer Bernal, 17, who is also a color guard co-captain. "Right now, I guess we're all a little shocked," she said. "We all saw her as a really supportive figure.

The first thing I noticed upon entering Supt. Fred Navarro's office was the frame on the wall containing his two UCLA diplomas next to a picture of the university's iconic Royce Hall. Newport-Mesa Unified School District's new leader immediately received extra likeability points from this former Bruin. On the job since July, Navarro said he's "really enjoying the challenge. It's an amazing district. " The former Costa Mesa High School principal returned at a critical juncture.

Michael Patrick Cavanaugh Was born on March 18, 1949 in Costa Mesa, California,  to Dudley Wayne Cavanaugh and Jeanne Marie Cavanaugh.   He passed away peacefully on October 4, 2012 at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California.    He grew up in Costa Mesa and attended Costa Mesa High School and Orange Coast College. After leaving school Michael decided to travel the world.  He and his friend Jerry set off for their travels and they spent the next year and a half backpacking through Europe and Asia.    They worked at various jobs while traveling and they had good times and hard times but they were able to see so many of the wonders of the world, wonders that no longer exist and wonders that people will never be able to see again.    They traveled to countries that you can no longer travel to and met and made friends with many people from all over the world.  The day after they returned home from their travels Michael met Alexis Linda Ting who he later married on August 30, 1975 and they had a beautiful life together.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District announced Friday the appointment of Todd Schmidt as principal of Harbor View Elementary School. Schmidt, Costa Mesa High School's assistant principal, will replace Charlene Metoyer who retired at the end of the summer. It hasn't yet been decided when Schmidt will move to Harbor View, he said. The move to Harbor View was a "no-brainer" with the excellent reputation of its students, teachers and parents, Schmidt said. "I've been so excited about this opportunity," he added Friday afternoon.

From the smallest kindergartner to the man at the top of the educational ladder, it's all about listening and learning. That's what new Supt. Fred Navarro, 55, said he will be doing in his early days with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. His first full day was July 11. Although he has already met with some board members and administrators, including interim Supt. Robert Barbot, he said he will meet with other educators to get a lot of "face time," as he tries to gather information.

After months of controversy and a lack of permanent leadership at the helm, the top position at Newport-Mesa Unified School District now has a name attached to it - and it's a familiar one. Fred Navarro, former principal of Costa Mesa High School, will be presented to the school board at its Tuesday meeting for approval as the new superintendent. "I'm excited to join the district again," he said. "I had a good professional and personal experience there, and I look forward to working with the staff and board members.

My friends and acquaintances, as well as those who have read my many offerings to the Daily Pilot over the years, are aware how very dedicated my wife, Elaine, and I are to our Costa Mesa schools. I volunteered for 13 years on various committees for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, including the Measure A bond issue, and served as the founding and first president of both the Eagle Pride Foundation and the Estancia-TeWinkle Schools Foundation. My four daughters attended California Elementary, TeWinkle Middle and Estancia High schools.

"Les" is more when it comes to honoring local students. Last week the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce distributed its annual Les Miller Outstanding Student Awards . The stirring, 33rd annual ceremony was at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa hotel. Awards and scholarships were presented to several dozen Costa Mesa high school and college students. I love the Les Miller awards. For many years, while I served as an administrator at Orange Coast College, I witnessed the awards being presented to deserving students and student-athletes.

Families moved around a terrace at the Hilton Costa Mesa/Orange County hotel, munching on cupcakes and cookies. With glasses of water and sparking apple cider in their hands, the families listened as students tried to sell them on their businesses. "Do you like coffee?" junior Kurt Williams asked anyone who passed his booth. Kurt created a virtual business delivering everything from cafe au lait, espresso and Mexican hot chocolate to milk and orange juice between midnight and 6 a.m. Costa Mesa High School's Business Academy hosted a showcase Monday evening at the hotel on Bristol Street to give families a look at what their children have been working on all year.

Costa Mesa High School Athletics has partnered with SoCal Kicks 4 Kids and the Costa Mesa Police Assn. to adopt Henryville Junior-Senior High School in Henryville, Ind., which has been devastated by the recent tornado. The groups are looking to help the Midwest school rebuild its athletic programs through collection of new or slightly used athletic gear, and cash donations. Items can be dropped off at Costa Mesa High School, 2650 Fairview Road, or the Costa Mesa Police Department, 99 Fair Drive.