| | News from Laguna Beach Unified School District, its teachers, students, staff and Board of Education. | | LBUSD honors students, staff at annual recognition ceremony | | |
The Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) Board of Education honored students and staff at its regularly scheduled meeting on January 22. The bi-annual recognition event also commemorated the LBUSD employees of the year.
Held twice a year at regularly scheduled board of education meetings, the student and staff awards night brings the school community together to recognize student participants in leadership, academics, arts, and athletics, employees of the year, and staff members for outstanding contributions to the school community and beyond.
| | Board receives update on intentional use of instructional technology | |
At its Jan. 22 meeting, the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education received an update on the district’s ongoing work to refine instructional technology use through a human-centered, developmentally appropriate approach. Staff reviewed how this work, first shared with the board in August 2025, is grounded in the T3 Framework for Innovation in Education and aligned with the LBUSD Learner Profile, with a focus on using technology purposefully to enhance learning and support student well-being.
Staff reported on a districtwide instructional audit conducted since August, including classroom screen time data by grade level and subject area, and an analysis of technology use categorized as sustained, intermittent, or collaborative. Preliminary findings showed average daily classroom screen time ranging from about 12% in early elementary grades to roughly 30% in middle and high school, informing draft guidelines that recommend less than one hour per day for primary grades and less than three hours per day for secondary students.
The presentation also outlined next steps, including annual family surveys, a review of screen time associated with homework, continued professional development focused on balanced unit design, and expanded family engagement through tools such as Securly Home and parent education events. Staff emphasized that these efforts are intended to ensure technology use remains meaningful, age-appropriate, and supportive of deep learning while preserving opportunities for in-person interaction and connection.
| Board President Sheri Morgan brings decades of parent and community experience to LBUSD | |
This profile is part of a new series highlighting the five members of the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education. Each feature shares the background, perspective, and priorities each trustee brings to serving students, families, and the Laguna Beach community.
Board President Sheri Morgan brings decades of experience as an LBUSD parent, volunteer, and community leader to her role on the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education. Her commitment to governance, student learning, and community engagement reflects a deep appreciation for the role public schools play in connecting families and preparing students for life beyond graduation.
| | Board adopts resolution recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day | At its Jan. 22 meeting, the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education adopted a resolution recognizing Jan. 27, 2026, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, honoring the victims, survivors and rescuers of the Holocaust. The resolution reaffirms the district’s commitment to Holocaust education, rejects Holocaust denial, and calls for continued efforts to combat antisemitism, intolerance and hate through education and community collaboration. | Board advances proposed revisions to agenda bylaw | At its Jan. 22 meeting, the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education received a first reading and presentation on proposed revisions to Board Bylaw 9322, which governs agenda development and the use of the consent agenda. During the item, the Board approved a separate motion, by a 3-2 vote, to revise the proposed agenda-development language to state that the Board president shall have final approval of the agenda to be posted and proposed for adoption, while preserving the Board’s authority to direct the placement of additional items on the agenda. The revised language will be incorporated into the draft bylaw, reviewed by legal counsel, and returned to the Board for a second reading. | El Morro counselor named Orange County Elementary Counselor of the Year | LBUSD counselor Marianne Lawson of El Morro Elementary School has been named the 2025–26 Orange County Elementary School Counselor of the Year by the Orange County Department of Education. Lawson, who has served LBUSD since 2016, was recognized for her dedication to student well-being, academic success and social-emotional development, and will be honored at the Orange County Counselor Symposium in February. | The next regularly scheduled board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. Visit lbusd.org/board for more information. | | | | | |
