School Board Meeting Wrap-Up

The following is from the Jan. 11 meeting of the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education.

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Student artists spotlighted

Principals Ron LaMotte and Chris Duddy introduced four students from Top of the World and El Morro elementary schools, who were honored for their participation in the city’s recent Holiday Palette competition, in which they were awarded certificates and had their work displayed at City Hall.

The students honored were Tatiana Moore, a third-grader at El Morro, TOW fourth-graders Claire Kelly and Lucinda Becker, and Emily Baker, a fifth-grade student at TOW.

Each of the girls showed their work of art to board members and explained their inspiration behind their work. Baker expressed her love of watercolors, which she chose to paint a snowman picture, while Becker deviated from the typical holiday scene with a vibrant collage of mermaids.

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SchoolPower donations presented

SchoolPower president Robin Rounaghi presented two sizable donations to the district including a $125,000 check, the first installment of the organization’s annual gift of $250,000.

The donation will benefit many programs at Laguna’s schools including K-12 classroom technology, music enrichment at El Morro and Top of the World elementary schools and the visual arts programs at Thurston Middle and Laguna Beach High schools.

SchoolPower’s Community Campaign fundraiser allows donors of $500 or more the opportunity to designate 20% of their gift to the teacher or program of their choice. A second check in the amount $61,930, presented by Vice President Marcus Skenderian and Community Campaign Chairwoman Carol Normandin, represents the total of these targeted gifts.

Rounaghi announced that last year’s Community Campaign far exceeded its goal, raising $358,000 and increasing participation to 540 contributors. She thanked the trustees, volunteers and community who all helped make the substantial gift possible.

Board President Theresa O’Hare commended Rounaghi and SchoolPower for the impressive donations and participation numbers, especially in such difficult economic times.

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Board members recognized, honored

Supt. Sherine Smith honored the board by reading a proclamation that establishes January as School Board Recognition Month.

“The National School Board Assn. has designated January as the month school boards are recognized and honored for their critical role in providing guidance, leadership, and oversight for our public schools. The job of a school board trustee is a tremendous responsibility that requires knowledge, commitment, and hard work,” she announced. “The children entrusted to our care benefit greatly when they are fortunate enough to attend schools that are tended by community members who are dedicated to excellence in education. As someone who has recently joined the Laguna Beach family, every day I witness examples of the exceptional efforts of our trustees.”

PTA Council President Melanie Lewis introduced PTA Council Secretary Kathleen Fay, El Morro PTA President Elaine Brashier, Top of the World PTA President Tammy Skenderian and Thurston Middle PTA President Lynn Gregory, who commented on each board member’s unique contribution to the district’s schools.

“Follow the Leader is a childhood game often played on warm, summer days. It’s an easy game, based on an important understanding. The person in front looks out for the others and always steers them on a safe path. Behind every school board member is a symbolic line of hundreds and hundreds of children. All of them are counting on caring parents, teachers and board members to successfully lead them into adulthood,” Lewis said.

The PTA leaders presented each board member about whom they spoke with a gift, symbolizing their dedication to education.

Smith concluded by presenting each board member with a yellow rose and reading a note written by students at El Morro, in which they thanked the board for “doing a good job with the budget” and allowing them to have things like a new computer program.

“We are grateful for the continuing support and strong collaborative relationships of PTA, SchoolPower, and SchoolPower Endowment,” Smith concluded. “These groups are a profound reflection of the deep commitment our community has to our schools.”