| | News from Laguna Beach Unified School District, its teachers, students, staff and Board of Education. | | Thurston Middle School Named a 2026 California Distinguished School as an Achievement Gap Closer | | |
Thurston Middle School in the Laguna Beach Unified School District has been designated a 2026 California Distinguished School in the Achievement Gap Closers category. The recognition, presented by the California Department of Education, honors schools demonstrating exemplary instructional programs and strong student outcomes.
The California Distinguished Schools Program recognizes public schools based on performance data from the California School Dashboard. Schools identified as Achievement Gap Closers are those accelerating academic progress for two or more historically underserved student groups, while also demonstrating achievement for all students above the state median and maintaining or increasing overall academic performance.
At Thurston Middle School, closing achievement gaps has come from consistent, focused work in classrooms every day. Teachers strengthened core instruction, met regularly to review student data, and provided additional support through Tutorial and targeted English Language Arts and Math Boost classes. Thurston refined its Multi-Tiered System of Supports, an approach that organizes how the school responds when students need help. The system begins with strong instruction in every classroom, followed by targeted small-group support and individualized interventions to ensure no student falls behind. Through this framework, the school aligned academic and behavioral systems, expanded restorative practices and Community Circles, and prioritized wellness efforts to strengthen student connection and belonging. As a result, Thurston saw an 11.9-point increase in mathematics, and math, English language arts, and science all reached the highest performance level on the state Dashboard. Suspension rates declined by 4.1%, and chronic absenteeism continued to decrease.
| | LBHS presents data on graduation, advanced coursework, college credit, and career pathways | |
At the March 12 meeting, Principal Jason Allemann, Ed.D., presented Laguna Beach High School’s annual report to the Board of Education, providing an update on how the school is advancing the district’s focus areas of college and career readiness, student well-being, and safe, inclusive schools.
The Class of 2025 reported a 97% graduation rate, with 81% of students enrolling in at least one Advanced Placement course and 44% participating in Career Technical Education, alongside expanded access to dual enrollment and articulated college credit opportunities. These opportunities allow students to challenge themselves academically, explore career interests, and, in many cases, earn college credit while still in high school. The report also highlighted a 43% reduction in D and F grades during the first semester, a 50% decrease in chronic tardiness, and comprehensive counseling services with an average caseload of 1:205, including 1:1 conferences and direct support for students and families. Overall, the report demonstrated documented progress across key performance indicators tied to graduation, course rigor, attendance, and student support systems, while identifying continued focus on reducing chronic absenteeism, increasing math proficiency, and sustaining gains in academic performance.
| Board approves funding transfer for LBHS Pool Modernization Project | The Board authorized an interfund transfer from the General Fund to the Special Reserve Fund for Capital Improvements in support of the district's pool modernization project. The transfer makes construction funding available ahead of a planned June construction start. The Board previously approved the project's construction contracts in January. Following the transfer, the district's projected unrestricted General Fund balance for 2025–26 is $7.12 million. | Laguna Beach High School Theatre presents “Urinetown” | |
Laguna Beach High School proudly invites the community to attend its 2026 spring musical, "Urinetown." This satirical production blends sharp humor with thought-provoking themes about society, power, and responsibility.
Upcoming Production Dates:
March 20 and 21, at 7 p.m.
March 22 at 2 p.m.
Written by Greg Kotis, with music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, the musical follows a town set 100 years in the future where water is running out. In an attempt to conserve water, a harsh businessman named Caldwell B. Cladwell bans private toilets, arguing it is the only solution to the crisis. Instead of being allowed to "pee for free" in the privacy of their own homes, residents must use public restrooms "to do their private business" and pay to do so. Strict rules accompany these new laws, and anyone caught breaking them is sent to the mysterious "Urinetown," from which no one returns. The musical explores the balance between extreme capitalism, corporate greed, and government mismanagement. Tickets are on sale now.
| | Board approves 2025–26 Second Interim Financial Report | |
At the March 12 meeting, the Board approved the district’s 2025–26 Second Interim Financial Report . The Second Interim is a state-required financial update that provides a snapshot of the district’s revenues, expenditures, and fund balance projections midway through the school year and confirms whether the district is on track to meet its financial obligations.
The report reflected a $1.2 million increase in both revenues and expenditures since the First Interim, driven largely by updated property tax projections, grant revenues, benefits adjustments, and services and operating costs. The district maintains a positive certification, indicating it can meet its financial commitments for the current and next two fiscal years, with an ending General Fund balance projected at approximately $12.8 million and required reserves for economic uncertainty maintained.
| Board reviews proposed updates to School Resource Officer agreement | |
At the March 12 meeting, the Board reviewed a proposed update to the School Resource Officer (SRO) Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Laguna Beach and the Laguna Beach Unified School District. The draft agreement would replace the 2019 MOU. Key proposed changes include:
The proposed agreement adds clearer language regarding required training, equipment, supervision, and coordination between School Resource Officers and school administration. It also replaces the prior open-ended agreement with a defined three-year term through June 30, 2029, with two optional one-year extensions. In addition, the draft reflects a revised cost structure and updated cost sharing between the City and the District, including a one-time vehicle contribution. The item was presented as an initial draft for discussion only, and the Board will continue discussions at a future meeting.
| The next regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting is a governance meeting on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 6 p.m. Visit lbusd.org/board for more information. | | | | | |
