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News from Laguna Beach Unified School District, its teachers, students, staff and Board of Education. | |
LBUSD hosts community update on LBHS Pool Modernization, shares latest proposal renderings | |
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The Board of Education hosted a community update on the conceptual design of the Laguna Beach High School pool modernization at its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday evening. The design team reviewed the conceptual plans and shared renderings to illustrate the potential improvements. The proposed enhancements to the aquatics facility include measures to mitigate sound and light pollution, maintain seating capacity, increase pool size for program flexibility, and incorporate sustainable features for efficiency. Based on feedback, the revised 45-meter pool design has evolved to balance school and community needs with operational and environmental considerations.
Several key points were clarified to address misinformation:
- The new pool's shallow portion will match the existing pool's current shallow space.
- Construction downtime is estimated to be around 11 months, with plans being developed for interim aquatic program use.
- The new space will support physical education and various athletic programs, not just aquatic sports.
- To date, assessments of the 40-year-old facility indicate that significant remodeling would be required to meet current building codes and standards. With equipment that is over 30 years old and existing buildings needing modernization, extensive demolition would be necessary. Given the age of the original building code, bringing the facility up to code would result in costs comparable to new construction and, in many cases, may exceed the cost of building a new facility.
- There are no plans for saunas or jacuzzis in the design.
- Architectural design for any renovation or new construction would be planned to seamlessly integrate with the existing structures in the area, ensuring consistency in style, aesthetics, and functionality with the surrounding environment.
For the most up-to-date and accurate information on the progress of the LBHS Pool Modernization project, visit www.lbusd.org/FMP.
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LBUSD shares energy master plan to boost efficiency, cut emissions, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 |  | |
The Energy Master Plan presentation, shared with the Board at the September 26 meeting, provided a comprehensive overview of Laguna Beach USD's energy consumption and proposed strategies to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency across all district facilities. The key focus areas were electrical consumption (72% of emissions) and natural gas consumption (28%). An energy audit was conducted earlier this year to assess each district-owned facility's baseline energy usage and specific potential upgrades. The proposed measures aim to significantly reduce electrical and natural gas consumption, with detailed plans to incorporate lighting controls, PV solar panels, and energy-efficient equipment replacements.
The presentation also outlined the estimated costs for implementation, totaling approximately $19.46 million. The plan emphasized the opportunity to maximize available incentives, rebates, and funding to offset costs, specifically through energy-saving measures and renewable technologies. Various financing options were shared, primarily focusing on Certificates of Participation (COPs), which provide a flexible alternative to general obligation bonds for capital improvements. The options ranged from $15M to $25M COPs, with varying annual payments and scopes of implementation. These upgrades aim to achieve operational savings, reduce utility costs, and position the district to meet a carbon neutrality goal by 2030.
| LBHS alumni inspire students: Career talks highlight passion-driven paths beyond high school |  | |
Over the past few weeks, LBHS welcomed alumni to the art and ceramics classes to discuss life after high school and the journey of following their passions into fulfilling careers. These career talks offer students a unique opportunity to connect on a deeper level, hearing firsthand from those who once walked the same hallways and experienced similar educational paths.
High school can often feel like a bubble, making life beyond those four years seem distant. Both alumni shared stories of discovering their passions in high school, taking college courses to nurture those interests, and ultimately building successful careers. Their journeys highlighted the importance of pursuing what excites them, even when the path forward isn’t always clear. Hearing from alumni helps current students see that there is life beyond high school and that finding a career you’re passionate about can be both achievable and incredibly rewarding.
Interested in making a difference by mentoring or sharing your career experiences with students? Click the link below to learn more and sign up for Waves of Wisdom!
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Two LBHS seniors named semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit® Scholarship Program | Two Laguna Beach High School seniors, Frederic Butler and Lyric Hagen, have been named semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®). They now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,870 National Merit Scholarships, collectively worth nearly $26 million, which will be awarded in the spring of 2025. | LBHS students champion civic engagement, host 2024 City Council Candidate Forum | LBUSD will provide a unique opportunity for students and community members to engage with local politics as students of Laguna Beach High School host the 2024 City Council Candidate Forum on October 1. The event, which takes place in the LBHS Artists’ Theater from 6 to 7:30 p.m., will feature candidates Bob Whalen, Judie Mancuso, Hallie Jones, and George Weiss. | The next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 6 p.m. Visit lbusd.org/board for more information. | | | | | |
