Transportation Ad Hoc Committee update

The Board received an update on the work of the Transportation Ad Hoc Committee, which was established in June 2025 and includes trustees, district staff, parents, students, and representatives from Durham School Services. The committee has met regularly since July to review transportation services and identify areas for improvement.

The update outlined several priority issues the committee has examined, including:

• Transportation needs in the TK/Audubon area
• Bus camera system deficiencies
• Limitations in the BusZone (Zonar) app
• Transparency in maintenance and safety documentation
• Bus monitors
• Communication protocols for incidents and delays
• HVAC and rider comfort concerns

Looking ahead, the committee is exploring options for additional onboard support for students, evaluating upgraded safety and tracking technology, and considering long-term improvements to make bus service more reliable and comfortable for families.

LBUSD announces 2025 employees of the year

LBUSD this week announced its 2025 Employees of the Year, recognizing Randi Beckley, a world language French teacher at Thurston Middle School with 19 years of service, as Teacher of the Year, and Thasa Zuziak, a special education instructional aide at Laguna Beach High School with 12 years of service, as Classified Employee of the Year.

In addition to the districtwide honorees, LBUSD also recognized Employees of the Year across several classified staff job categories. These categories represent the wide range of non-teaching roles that support the district’s schools:

• Leanne Hartley: Clerical and Administrative Services, Data Support Specialist, District Office
• Sal Tamayo: Custodial, Maintenance, Nutrition, and Security Services, Campus Supervisor, Laguna Beach High School
• Krissy Landgraf: Health and Student Services, Activities Account Specialist, Laguna Beach High School

Employees of the year will be celebrated as part of a broader recognition ceremony at the school board meeting on January 22 at 6 p.m. 

LBHS students lead the way in sustainability with grand opening of new edible garden

Laguna Beach High School (LBHS) celebrated the grand opening of its new edible garden on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, a student-driven project born from ideas presented in last year’s Sustain SoCal Challenge. 

Led by LBHS student Zoe Bartels and funded by a SchoolPower grant, the project aligns with the Laguna Beach Garden Literacy Initiative, which has established garden learning spaces at every school site across the district and advances the district’s sustainability goals by strengthening environmental education and promoting student and staff health and wellness. Orange County Waste and Recycling also supported the effort by contributing soil and compost diverted from landfills.