School Board Meeting Wrap-Up

The following is from the March 23 meeting of the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education.

H1N1 program may be halted

Thurston Middle School Principal and H1N1 Wellness Committee Chairwoman Joanne Culverhouse told the board that the committee is reviewing the decision to continue the H1N1 prevention and safety protocols put in effect last summer in preparation for keeping students and staff healthy during the swine flu season. The measures taken thus far have proven effective.

Drug, alcohol program updated

Irene White, director of Special Education Student Services and Project REACH chairwoman, presented a multiyear implementation plan focusing on prevention, targeted interventions and restorative plans in the district’s schools. REACH is a multi-pronged effort to address drug and alcohol use among students.

Under the plan, the REACH committee will continue to develop support programs for students at risk academically and behaviorally, increase activities to keep students connected to school, increase awareness of staff and supervision at all sites, bring more focus to parent education, develop a stronger connection with the community to address student drug and alcohol use, and prevention of use.

“We have also formed a community coalition since this is a community problem not just a school issue, and are well on our way to making a difference not only in the awareness area for staff, parents and students but in the lives of kids,” White said.

REACH stands for:

R “” Require each student to adhere to a strict code of conduct relative to alcohol and drug use at school and at all school-related activities, as well as develop a process that links first time offenders with supports/services.

E “” Educate students about the harmful short- and long-term effects of alcohol and drug use with evidence based curriculum at each educational level and developmental stages over the K-12 continuum.

A “” Assist students with refusal skills to avoid first time use and assist students in making better decisions when they are in violation of the district’s prohibition against alcohol and drug use.

C “” Connect the district with various community agencies in an effort to combine efforts to address alcohol and other drug use by students.

H “” Help parents increase their awareness of the complexity of this issue and parenting techniques that hold the highest probability of deterring student use of alcohol and drugs.

Third-graders embracing violins

Top of the World Elementary School Principal Ron LaMotte made his second presentation to the board this year about the success of the elementary school’s newly adopted violin program.

“Third-grade students have demonstrated tremendous enthusiasm, excitement and responsibility in learning and caring for their violins,” LaMotte said. “The change from recorders to violins has been extremely well received. In fact, many students have expressed an interest to continue with a string instrument as they enter fourth and fifth grade.”

Students performed for parents at a recent school concert.

Language of Music added at El Morro

El Morro Elementary School Principal Chris Duddy updated the board on the progress of adding the language of music to the Choral Music Program at El Morro and Top of the World.

The new program enhances the choral program by adding sheets of music to the lyrics, teaching students beat, rhythm, staccato, and crescendo among other musical terms and concepts.

“We have combined the joy of singing with the fundamentals of music to strengthen our program,” Duddy said. “Songs and activities have also been incorporated to support the elementary Spanish program, which helps to create a culture of foreign language acquisition.”