Briefly In Education

College welcomes new board members

Laguna College of Art and Design’s Board of Trustees has elected three new members: Nicole Anderson, Nancy Beverage and Patricia O’Brien.

Composed of corporate officers, alumni, artists and community leaders, the board’s roles include volunteer and fiduciary commitment to further the mission of the college, serving as ambassadors in the community, and applying their leadership on behalf of the institution.

“In addition to being very bright people, each of our new trustees bring special professional experience to keep the college moving forward,” President Dennis Power said. “One has skills in estate planning, another in community relations, and a third in academic administration. We are fortunate and proud to have them on the governing board.”

Anderson, principal of Anderson Law Group in Laguna Beach, practices primarily in the area of estate planning and business law. Currently pursuing her master’s in law in taxation from Chapman University School of Law, she also volunteers her time with the Junior League of Orange County and serves on the committee for the Orange County Bar Foundation for Higher Education’s Mentoring Project.

Beverage, who has spent her entire professional career at IBM, has worked in various marketing and technical management roles including managing the Orange County Executive Briefing Center. Since taking early retirement from IBM, she has been active in many nonprofits. She was a member of the Laguna Beach Arts Commission for nine years, serving two terms as chairwoman, and is currently vice chairwoman of the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance as well as serving on the executive committee of the Laguna Beach Sister Cities Assn.

O’Brien, a cultural historian, is an author of books and articles in modern French history, and co-author of a textbook in western civilization for college students. For the past 20 years, she has served as a university administrator in the University of California system. She retired from UCLA last year, where she had headed the College of Letters and Science.

Officers of the board of trustees are: Jim McQueen (McQueen & Ashman LLP), chairman; Stevan Gromet (Gromet & Associates), vice chairman; Nancy Milby (Laguna Culinary Arts), treasurer; and Lisa Dallendorfer (The Dall Group), secretary.

All high school alumni invited to reunite

All Laguna Beach High School alumni are invited to join the fun at Hennessey’s Upstairs at 6 p.m. Sept. 18. The class of 1979 is organizing the event and invites any alumni to meet at 213 Ocean Ave. and reconnect with classmates. There is no cover charge; a no-host bar and food will be available.

SchoolPower’s Palooza is back at El Morro

An afternoon of barbecue and music entertainment, including a performance by the Jason Feddy Band, will return to El Morro Elementary School from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 20 on the school’s campus.

The award-winning Laguna Beach High School Jazz Band will open the event.

Principal Don Austin said the event is the perfect way to kick off the new school year, after the Palooza’s debut last year.

“It is sure to be even better this year,” he said.

Robin Rounaghi, SchoolPower board president, said the community outreach event is organized to thank educators, donors, business sponsors and volunteers for the great local effort that results in an “exceptional public education.”

SchoolPower is a volunteer, nonprofit foundation that has raised money for Laguna Beach public schools since 1981. Through the generosity of Laguna families and local businesses, SchoolPower has provided local schools with millions of dollars for teacher innovation, academics, the arts, foreign language, athletics and technology.

Advanced sale tickets are $10 per child, $20 per adult. At the event, tickets will be $15 for kids and $25 for adults. Tickets include dinner. Ticket prices are designed to cover only the costs of the event, and can be ordered at www.lbschoolpower.org.

Adult English classes offered by district to start

English as a Second Language classes will begin this month at two venues.

The Laguna Beach Unified School District will offer the classes for adults from Sept. 21 through Jan. 30 at Laguna Beach High School, 625 Park Ave.

Classes will be from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays in Room 90. This class is free. For more information or to register, call (949) 497-7700, ext. 210.

In addition, La Playa Center will offer English as a Second Language classes beginning Sept. 28 at the Boys & Girls Club.

Classes will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and accompanying child care will also be provided.

For more information, call (949) 278-8129.