| | News from Laguna Beach Unified School District, its teachers, students, staff and Board of Education. | | Celebrate the Arts in LBUSD | | |
Laguna Beach Unified School District invites our community to the annual Celebration of the Arts, an evening dedicated to showcasing the creativity and talent of our students across all grade levels.
Join us on April 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Laguna Beach High School for a dynamic, campus-wide experience featuring student artwork and live performances in dance, theatre, choir, band, and orchestra.
Guests will have the opportunity to explore visual art displays from elementary through high school, experience media arts and visual production, and enjoy performances throughout the evening, including featured sets in the Artists Theatre and on the main quad. Whether you stop by for a single performance or spend the evening exploring, this event offers a unique opportunity to see how the arts come to life across LBUSD.
| | El Morro Elementary Principal’s Report Highlights Student Growth and Ongoing Progress | |
El Morro Elementary School is strengthening student learning through targeted instruction and enrichment, using ongoing assessments throughout the year to monitor progress and adjust teaching in real time, with results showing an increase in students meeting grade-level expectations from 44% to 70% in reading and from 31% to 57% in math by midyear.
This growth reflects a cycle of instruction and progress monitoring, in which educators regularly review student data, provide additional support as needed, and track progress toward end-of-year goals. The school is also prioritizing student well-being and engagement, alongside efforts to improve attendance, expand family partnerships, and provide comprehensive supports, to support a positive and connected school environment.
| Board receives report on student discipline and restorative practices | |
The Board of Education received a report from Director of Social and Emotional Support Michael Keller, Ed.D., on how student behavior is addressed through a structured process aligned with the California Education Code and Board policy within the district’s progressive discipline system. The presentation provided an overview of practices, emphasizing that each situation and student is considered individually, with multiple factors reviewed when determining appropriate responses.
The report detailed how restorative practices, along with interventions such as counseling, family meetings, and skill-building supports, serve as primary responses to student behavior, with suspension reserved for situations required by law or necessary for safety. It also emphasized the district’s responsibility to document and track student behavior over time, using a clear process to identify concerns, understand what happened, and determine appropriate supports, with the goal of addressing issues early and helping prevent more serious incidents on campus.
| Board Member Howard Hills brings constitutional law background and lifelong LBUSD ties to board service | |
This profile is part of a 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 Member Howard Hills brings to the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education decades of experience as a constitutional lawyer and U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer, alongside deep ties to the LBUSD community where his commitment to civic engagement first began as a student.
| | Board receives update on district communications system and engagement efforts | |
The Board of Education received a report on the district's communications system, presented by Director of Communications and Engagement Anakaren Ureño, which outlined a structured framework to provide clear, consistent information and create opportunities for two-way engagement with the community.
The presentation highlighted how the district uses feedback systems, including surveys, advisory groups, engagement data, and direct outreach, to refine communication priorities and align efforts with district goals and community needs.
Next steps include comprehensively reviewing data and community feedback to update the Communications Plan's priorities and objectives, with a focused effort to strengthen two-way engagement, expand awareness and access to input opportunities, and broaden participation across the Laguna Beach community. The discussion will continue at the Board's next regularly scheduled meeting on April 9.
| Upcoming student performances and exhibits | LBUSD invites the community to experience the creativity and talent of our students through a series of upcoming performances and exhibits this April. From visual arts featured in the Color It Orange exhibition at LCAD Gallery to live vocal and dance performances at Laguna Beach High School, these events highlight the breadth of student artistry across the district. | Community meeting: share your input on school priorities | |
LBUSD invites students, families, staff and community members to participate in an upcoming LCAP Community Convening on Thursday, April 30, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Laguna Beach High School.
The LCAP is the District’s three-year plan that outlines priorities, goals and investments to support student success. This meeting offers an opportunity to learn more about how our schools are performing, review progress and share input to help guide future decisions.
We encourage all community members to attend and be part of the conversation. Please register in advance to participate. Childcare will be available for students in grades K–5.
| The next regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting is a governance meeting on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 6 p.m. Visit lbusd.org/board for more information. | | | | | |
