Vicki Snell chosen as Newport-Mesa school board president

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District board selected member Vicki Snell as its new president Monday night.

The unanimous vote gives Snell her first term as board president. The seven-member group holds an organizational meeting each December to select a president and appoint members to other board posts.

Snell was appointed to the board in 2014 and was elected later that year as the representative of Area 1, which includes Estancia High School and various Costa Mesa elementary schools. She was re-elected in 2016.

Snell said in an interview that she is excited to serve as president and continue moving forward with district goals.

Charlene Metoyer, who previously was board clerk, will now be vice president. Martha Fluor will serve as clerk.

Security fencing

In other business Monday, the board unanimously approved an agreement for Irvine-based Studio+ Architecture to design plans for security fencing and office renovations at Mariners, Newport Heights and Wilson elementary schools.

The project is budgeted at $244,040.

To help enhance security at school sites, the district is installing fencing to better control visitor access points, according to a staff report.

Fencing projects were completed in the past few years at Adams, Anderson, Victoria and Eastbluff elementary schools.

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