SCHOOL BOARD WRAP-UP

The following is from the Oct. 24 Laguna Beach Board of Education meeting:

New tech building moves forward

The board unanimously approved a motion to proceed with the design and preliminary site costs for a technology building proposed to be constructed next to the administration building after discussing the building’s potential impact on the community.

Neighboring residents have been personally advised of the district’s intention to build the facility, school officials said.

Although the area is not required to be staked — with poles placed at the site to indicate the outline of the building — given its height, Board President Robert Whalen said that staking should be required for the sake of the community.

Whalen also suggested that press releases be created and more public input about the project sought at future meetings. School district projects are not subject to the approval of the city.

High Schoolers want campuswide e-mail

Student representative James Knapp said that Laguna Beach High School students have indicated interest in a campuswide e-mail servicethrough which all students may communicate to each other via a common address format.

He described a free hosted package, part of Google Apps for Education, where schools can access private-labeled e-mail, instant messaging and community calendars, with the ability for customizable administrator controls.

Knapp said that students are currently not allowed to access their e-mail at school.

Director of Technology Victor Guthrie said that he would be interested in speaking with the Associated Student Body about such a program.

Board member El Hathaway asked the Associated Student Body to create a presentation about the service.

District employees lauded for leadership

The board recognized several district employees for their leadership in various professional learning communities.

At the district level, Food Services Administrator Debra Appel was honored; Laguna Beach High Science Department Chair Jennifer Merritt, Thurston Math Department Chair Maria Hoffman, Top of the World reading technician Margaret Warder, and El Morro teachers Denise Grey and Kathy Vick were also recognized for their efforts.

Thurston mod project honored

Wendy Rogers of LPA, the architecture firm hired for retrofitting and renovation of district campuses, made a presentation about an award of excellence for modernization awarded for the firm’s efforts at Thurston Middle School.

The award was given by the Coalition for Adequate School Housing. The modernization was financed by a local bond measure.

Basic aid budget differential approved

The board unanimously approved the allocation of $670,000 toward the district’s target goal of a reserve amounting to two-thirds of the basic aid differential — the funds the district receives from local property taxes instead of from the state.

Basic aid school districts such as Laguna Beach receive revenues above and beyond the revenue limit guaranteed by the state to all districts. The additional revenue is based on gains from local property taxes and can therefore be unstable, school officials said.

Basic aid districts therefore maintain a reserve as a safety net. A massive reduction in basic aid funding was narrowly avoided in 2003.

During public comment, school board candidate Kelly Cornwell said that the target differential is too high given current and projected economic conditions. He has previously said that he would work to lower the reserve and provide more funding to today’s students.

The board members opined that the reserve was appropriate, if not low, and should not be lessened, particularly given the opposition toward basic aid districts from non-basic aid areas, which rely solely on state revenue.

The next Laguna Beach Board of Education meeting will be 7 p.m., Nov. 28, at the district office, 550 Blumont St. For more information, call (949) 497-7700.