| | News from Laguna Beach Unified School District, its teachers, students, staff and Board of Education. | | Board reviews governance roles and responsibilities | | |
At its Feb. 26 Board Governance meeting, the Board received a presentation from Jonathan A. Pearl of Dannis Woliver Kelley, who serves as the district’s general counsel. The session provided an overview of governance principles, including the legal roles and responsibilities of the Board and superintendent, and included discussion and questions from Board members. Topics reviewed included:
- The role and responsibilities of the Governing Board
- Board and superintendent roles and governance team expectations
- Collective authority of the Board versus individual member authority
- Board delegations of authority to the superintendent and Board delegations of authority to the Board President
- Public accountability and monitoring district performance
- Confidential information and closed session requirements under the Brown Act
- Meeting conduct and public participation procedures
The session provided an opportunity to review and clarify the policies and legal standards that govern Board operations.
| | Board approves change in graduation venue for class of 2026 | |
The Board of Education approved a change in venue for the Laguna Beach High School Class of 2026 graduation ceremony. Since 2020, commencement ceremonies have been held at Guyer Field; prior to that, graduations were held at the Irvine Bowl.
The action follows a Feb. 12 discussion in which high school and middle school leadership presented planning considerations, including venue options, student feedback, operational logistics, cost factors, and guiding principles focused on student recognition, family access, safety, and inclusion. The Board also considered community input. After hearing additional public comment at recent meetings, the Board voted at its Feb. 26 meeting to return graduation for the Class of 2026 to the Irvine Bowl. In making the decision, the Board considered community input, data on both site options, and cost implications, including the relevance and meaning of the ceremony.
| Laguna Beach USD’s Elisabeth Kannenberg named OC Central Office Administrator of the Year | |
The Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 17, representing all school districts in Orange County, has recognized LBUSD Director of Accountability and Assessment Elisabeth Kannenberg, Ed.D., as the 2026 Central Office Administrator of the Year. ACSA is the largest umbrella organization for school leaders in the nation. Region 17 focuses on serving educational leaders in the pursuit of equity and excellence to meet the diverse needs of all students in Orange County. Candidates for the award are nominated by their peers and are selected for their outstanding performance and achievement in their respective categories.
Dr. Kannenberg’s career in education spans nearly 25 years and includes service as a special education teacher, assistant principal, principal, and district leader. Since joining LBUSD in 2021, Dr. Kannenberg has led districtwide efforts in assessment, intervention, literacy, expanded learning, and student services.
| LBHS FLOW students launch Fire Safety Awareness Campaign | |
The annual Laguna Beach High School FLOW totes have officially launched this week, marking the start of the FLOW Fire Safety Campaign, which aims to increase community awareness of fire prevention and mitigation. As part of their English courses, freshmen complete a two-part project centered on educating residents about creating defensible space and reducing fire damage to residential property.
Students design reusable tote bags featuring practical fire-mitigation tips and write accompanying press releases that outline key prevention strategies and highlight collaboration with local partners. The top five tote designs are selected for production and distributed throughout the community, and the strongest press release is shared with local media to showcase both the campaign and the students’ work.
Inspired by lessons from the 1993 fire, the project empowers students to contribute to community safety through education and design. The initiative is made possible through the LBHS FLOW program in partnership with the Laguna Beach Fire Department, the Laguna Beach County Water District, and the Greater Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council.
| | Share your feedback: annual community survey | |
Laguna Beach Unified School District is inviting families, students, staff, and community members to participate in our annual community survey. Your input helps us understand what is working well in our schools and where we can improve.
The survey asks for feedback on student learning, school climate, safety, communication, and support services. Responses will help guide district priorities and planning for the coming school year.
| Board approves revisions to policies related to immigration requirements | |
The Board of Education approved revisions to several district policies to align with Assembly Bill 495, which amended Education Code Section 234.7. The updates ensure that district policies reflect current state requirements related to the rights and protections of students and families, regardless of immigration status.
The revisions were presented as part of the district’s ongoing policy review process to maintain compliance with state law. The full text of the updated policies is available in the meeting agenda materials.
| El Morro students celebrate “Dress for Success” Day | |
This week, El Morro students participated in Dress for Success. Students wore outfits that represented what success looks like to them and took photos in front of a step and repeat backdrop.
This fun event highlighted an important message at a young age: success can look different for everyone. Some favorite responses included becoming the U.S. President, a professional soccer player, a secret agent, or even winning the lottery.
| The next regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting is a governance meeting on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. Visit lbusd.org/board for more information. | | | | | |
