SCHOOL BOARD WRAP-UP

The following is from the March 27 meeting of the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education.

Superintendent search update given

The board met with its search firm in closed session to discuss candidates in its search for a new superintendent.

It began interviewing candidates yesterday.

High school, district employees honored

Superintendent Theresa Daem lauded Laguna Beach High School for winning the coveted California Distinguished School honor.

One employee from each school and the district office were honored for the quarterly Pyramid of Intervention recognitions.

Aide Maggie Padilla from El Morro Elementary, new teacher Dustin Gowan from Top of the World Elementary, social studies teacher Jason Babiar of Thurston Middle School, Spanish teacher Rod Ortiz from Laguna Beach High and former district employee Ricardo Gallegos were honored for helping struggling students, be it academically, socially or behaviorally.

High school basketball coach Bret Fleming was awarded for the most career victories in the high school’s history.

Board discusses role of data in education

The board discussed how the district’s Professional Learning Communities use data such as grade distribution in improving instruction.

The Professional Learning Communities are composed of teachers in particular grade levels or subjects who meet regularly to learn and discuss education issues.

For example, in a recent report, one quarter of a group of ninth-graders were receiving D and F grades in English.

The teachers would determine what specific issues these students were experiencing and tackle them specifically.

They also noticed the middle and high school English teachers hadn’t had a formal meeting since 1992, so one was arranged.

Compiled by Candice Baker