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  • School Board Meeting: Thursday, 1/14

    The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education on Thursday, January 14 at 5 p.m. will be held via Zoom and broadcast live at www.lbusd.org/liveboardmeeting . The full agenda has been posted here . The meeting schedule is as follows: Open session is scheduled for 5 PM. Public Comment is accepted in writing prior to the meeting, or by phone or webinar during the meeting. Live public comments will be accepted during the designated public comment periods of the meeting. The time for live comments will be limited, so prepare your remarks accordingly. Written Comments Written public comments may be submitted electronically no later than Thursday, January 14, 2021 by 12:00 p.m. via the following link: January 14, 2021 Public Comment Request Form . Written comments will be shared with the entire Board, but will not be read aloud during the meeting. Calling in by phone: Members of the public may call in using the Zoom meeting phone number: (669) 900-6833. For open session , the Webinar ID is: 979 5098 4874 . Press *9 on your phone if you would like to comment during the designated comment period. Once recognized to make your comment, press *6 to un-mute your phone. When you hear "your phone is un-muted," please proceed with your comment. Commenting via Zoom: If you would like to make a comment and you are viewing the meeting via Zoom webinar, raise your hand during the public comment period, and unmute your microphone once recognized to do so.

    Monday, Jan 11 2021

  • LBUSD COVID-19 Status Update

    Dear LBUSD Community: I hope you are enjoying winter break with your families.  I wanted to provide you with the most recent update on the status of our potential reopening of secondary schools in the new year.  As you may be aware, there are several State metrics we are monitoring in preparation to reopen our secondary schools.   Regional Stay-at-Home Order The Regional Stay-at-Home order has been extended due to ICU capacity below 15% in our region.  While the order does not directly impact school reopening, the continued community spread of COVID-19 keeping Orange County in the Purple Tier prevents us from reopening our secondary schools, according to the health officials at California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA). Tier Status As of today, Orange County remains in the Purple Tier.  We are permitted to maintain schools we have open, including our elementary schools.  We are not able to reopen secondary schools until Orange County demonstrates metrics consistent with Red Tier criteria for two consecutive weeks.  We will continue to maintain communication with OCHCA about our status and plan to reopen secondary schools as soon as we are permitted to do so. Student Testing At the December 17 Board meeting, the Board approved an extended contract for student COVID-19 testing in preparation for reopening.  We plan to schedule this voluntary opportunity for students the week before we are able to reopen.  Contact Tracing Our staff continues to conduct contact tracing upon learning of confirmed cases, either through District testing opportunities or cases reported by parents.  Contract tracing is an important element of our COVID-19 prevention plan.  We continue to urge families to notify us when a student has had a close contact or tested positive so we may conduct the necessary contact tracing and quarantine any students or staff with close contact to prevent further spread.   Staff Shortages Over the two weeks before winter break, we experienced an extensive shortage of staff at our elementary schools due to increasing numbers of staff requiring quarantine as a result of a close contact.  While we have not experienced an “outbreak” that would require school closure as defined by the CDPH guidelines, if we do not have sufficient staff to maintain safe school operations, we may need to temporarily close a school.  Our pool of substitutes has diminished like most school districts.  The Board recently approved a temporary increase in substitute teacher pay to $180 per day, hoping to retain and recruit additional substitutes.  If you know of anyone interested in employment as a substitute, please encourage them to apply.  Our current openings are  listed here . Sincerely, Jason Viloria, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

    Thursday, Dec 31 2020

  • School Board Meeting: Thursday, 12/17

    The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education on Thursday, December 17 at 6 p.m. will be held via Zoom and broadcast live at www.lbusd.org/liveboardmeeting . The full agenda has been posted here . The meeting schedule is as follows: Oath of office is scheduled for 5 PM. Closed session is scheduled for 5:15 PM. Open session is scheduled for 6 PM. Public Comment is accepted in writing prior to the meeting, or by phone or webinar during the meeting. Live public comments will be accepted during the designated public comment periods of the meeting. The time for live comments will be limited, so prepare your remarks accordingly. Written Comments Written public comments may be submitted electronically no later than Thursday, December 17, 2020 by 12:00 p.m. via the following link: December 17,  2020 Public Comment Request Form . Written comments will be shared with the entire Board, but will not be read aloud during the meeting. Calling in by phone: Members of the public may call in using the Zoom meeting phone number: (669) 900-6833. For closed session,  the Webinar ID is: 958 2074 3570 . Press *9 on your phone if you would like to comment during the designated comment period. Once recognized to make your comment, press *6 to un-mute your phone. When you hear "your phone is un-muted," please proceed with your comment. For open session , the Webinar ID is: 921 4978 1061 . Press *9 on your phone if you would like to comment during the designated comment period. Once recognized to make your comment, press *6 to un-mute your phone. When you hear "your phone is un-muted," please proceed with your comment. Commenting via Zoom: If you would like to make a comment and you are viewing the meeting via Zoom webinar, raise your hand during the public comment period, and unmute your microphone once recognized to do so.

    Monday, Dec 14 2020

  • COVID-19 Cases and Secondary Reopening Update

    Dear LBUSD Community, In our continued efforts to serve our students and staff members safely in preparation for secondary reopening, we completed another round of student novel coronavirus (COVID-19) testing on Monday, November 16, 2020. We tested an additional 360 secondary students projected to attend in-person instruction starting on Monday, November 23, 2020. Of those 360 students tested for COVID-19, 11 were found to be positive. As a result of these confirmed positive cases and the contact tracing our staff has conducted at this point, over 30 additional students have been directed to quarantine as a result of close contact with a confirmed case. This number continues to grow as we conduct additional contact tracing. Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) confirmed that secondary schools in LBUSD are not permitted to reopen at this time. Based on information received from OCHCA, the earliest possible return date, based on the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Framework, would be after winter break (assuming Orange County is able to advance back to the red tier). To advance to a less restrictive tier: A county must have been in the current tier for a minimum of three weeks. A county must meet criteria for the next less restrictive tier for both measures for the prior two consecutive weeks in order to progress to the next tier. In addition, counties must meet the health equity criteria to demonstrate the county’s ability to address the most impacted communities within a county. Our health and nursing team are actively working under the direction of the OCHCA School Response Team (SRT) to meet the immediate contact tracing requirements to ensure student, family, and staff safety. Most importantly, the contact tracing process helps our school community to identify, isolate, and reduce the community spread of COVID-19. Through three rounds of student COVID-19 testing, the district has provided 710 student COVID-19 tests and has identified 14 total student cases. There were an additional 7 student COVID-19 cases reported to the district from parents for a total of 21 known student cases of COVID-19, to date. Throughout the contact tracing process, district staff maintain student confidentiality and protect student privacy in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Although our current plans for secondary reopening on November 23 have been delayed by order from the OCHCA and CDPH, the district will offer another round of student COVID-19 testing prior to secondary reopening when that date is identified. We ask that you continue to be vigilant for signs and symptoms of the COVID-19 and to report any known cases to your child’s school nurse. The symptoms monitoring guidelines indicate high-risk symptoms to include cough, difficulty breathing, and loss of taste/smell, with low-risk symptoms being fever (≥ 100.4℉), sore throat, congestion/runny nose, headache, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, or fatigue/muscle or body aches. If your child is having symptoms of COVID-19, please keep your child home and notify your healthcare provider and school nurse. We encourage families to be proactive and to reinforce the importance of handwashing, physical distancing of 6 feet or more, and the use of face coverings at all times on school facilities and when around others to limit the spread. School Nurse Contact Information: Top of the World Elementary and Thurston Middle School: Kelly Schultz, RN, MSN: kschultz@lbusd.org El Morro and Laguna Beach High School: Pam Majd, RN, MSN: pmajd@lbusd.org   We encourage families to observe the state’s updated travel advisory , released on November 13, which states that “Persons arriving in California from other states or countries, including returning California residents, should practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival.” This includes students who may be traveling for the holidays or who have traveled out of state for club sports. You can review the most current information about confirmed cases on our COVID-19 dashboard . The dashboard is updated one time daily, Monday through Friday. Sincerely, Jason Viloria, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

    Wednesday, Nov 18 2020

  • Secondary Reopening: A Message from Dr. Jason Vilori...

    Dear Thurston and LBHS Communities, I want to provide you with more information about steps we are taking to address the implications of Orange County’s return to the purple tier on the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) framework, which prevents LBUSD from reopening its secondary schools on Monday, November 23. As you all know, yesterday’s announcement was completely unexpected and has left us with more questions than answers. I share the frustration many of you have expressed that we are not able to reopen as planned on Monday. Today, I have been in contact with officials at the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) to reiterate that LBUSD has the highest level of health and safety plans in place and is fully prepared to reopen safely on Monday for those who selected that option. I am appealing to OCHCA to grant us a variance to allow secondary schools to reopen as planned next week. I am also requesting that we be provided the updated timelines under this revised “emergency brake” framework in the event they do not grant our request to reopen secondary schools, as we should not have to wait until January to reopen if our cases improve in Orange County. I know many of you are disappointed in the CDPH announcement as am I. I will continue to advocate with local and state officials to allow us to safely reopen our schools. Sincerely, Jason Viloria, Ed.D. Superintendent

    Wednesday, Nov 18 2020

  • School Board Meeting: Thursday, 11/19

    The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education on Thursday, November 19 at 6 p.m. will be held via Zoom and broadcast live at www.lbusd.org/liveboardmeeting .   The full agenda has been posted here. The meeting schedule is as follows: Closed session is scheduled for 5:15 PM. Open session is scheduled for 6 PM. Public Comment is accepted in writing prior to the meeting, or by phone or webinar during the meeting. Live public comments will be accepted during the designated public comment periods of the meeting. The time for live comments will be limited, so prepare your remarks accordingly. Written Comments Written public comments may be submitted electronically no later than Thursday, November 19, 2020 by 12:00 p.m. via the following link: November 19 , 2020 Public Comment Request Form . Written comments will be shared with the entire Board, but will not be read aloud during the meeting. Calling in by phone: Members of the public may call in using the Zoom meeting phone number: (669) 900-6833. For closed session,  the Webinar ID is: 916 5060 8000 . Press *9 on your phone if you would like to comment during the designated comment period. Once recognized to make your comment, press *6 to un-mute your phone. When you hear "your phone is un-muted," please proceed with your comment. For open session , the Webinar ID is: 991 9397 4424 . Press *9 on your phone if you would like to comment during the designated comment period. Once recognized to make your comment, press *6 to un-mute your phone. When you hear "your phone is un-muted," please proceed with your comment. Commenting via Zoom: If you would like to make a comment and you are viewing the meeting via Zoom webinar, raise your hand during the public comment period, and unmute your microphone once recognized to do so.

    Monday, Nov 16 2020

  • IMPORTANT: Reopening of Secondary Schools Delayed

    Dear LBUSD Community, This afternoon, Governor Newsom announced that California would be pulling the “emergency brake” due to increasing COVID-19 cases and as a result, Orange County will move into the purple tier, the most-restrictive tier, effectively immediately . What does this mean for reopening secondary schools? Unfortunately, this means the reopening of our secondary schools for in-person learning will be delayed and students in grades 6-12 will remain in Phase I, distance learning only. Previous guidance received by the District indicated that we could reopen middle and high schools even if Orange County moved into the purple tier tomorrow, as the CDPH Framework was adjusted on Tuesdays and the restrictions in purple tier would not have been in effect until late next week. We were also operating under the guidance that since we had reopened classes and a learning center for students with disabilities and English Learners, we would be permitted to continue our planned reopening. However, the guidance has been updated to indicate that even though we have opened selected programs, we cannot commence in-person instruction for all grade levels. Will elementary schools remain open for in-person learning? Yes. Since elementary schools opened on October 5, they may remain open for in-person learning. When will secondary schools reopen? At the earliest, secondary schools could reopen in January, if Orange County is able to move out of the purple tier criteria in the next few weeks. While tier assignments were evaluated once per week, they may now occur any day of the week and may occur more than once a week when the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) determines that the most recent reliable data indicate that immediate action is needed to address COVID-19 transmission in a county. In order to shift from purple to red, Orange County would need to demonstrate metrics consistent with red tier criteria for three weeks. State guidance indicates that schools can reopen for in-person instruction once their county has been in the Substantial (red) tier for two weeks. Tiers take effect the day after assignment. We will continue to update you as we receive more information. You will receive more specific information about Trimester 2 distance learning from your site principal. I appreciate your continued patience and flexibility as we navigate these ever-changing frameworks during the pandemic. Sincerely, Jason Viloria, Ed.D. Superintendent

    Monday, Nov 16 2020

  • Schools Open for In-Person Learning Tomorrow, 10/28

    Dear LBUSD Elementary Families, Our elementary schools will resume in-person learning tomorrow, Wednesday, October 28. The Red Flag Warnings for Laguna Beach have expired and are not anticipated to be in place tomorrow. We will monitor the air quality and will have indoor spaces available for all groups should it be necessary. If you have any questions, please reach out to your school site.

    Tuesday, Oct 27 2020

  • IMPORTANT: School Closure Tomorrow, 10/27 - Distance...

    Dear LBUSD Elementary Families, Due to the extreme weather conditions, poor air quality, and unpredictable power outages, we will move to a Phase I Distance Learning schedule for tomorrow, Tuesday, October 27.  All students will engage in 100% distance learning tomorrow.  Students will follow their Phase I distance learning schedules by logging into their teachers’ Zoom links in Google Classroom beginning at 8:30 AM until 11:30 AM. Many of our staff members are impacted by the evacuations and out of an abundance of caution, want to ensure our students and staff are safe.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Sincerely, Jason Viloria, Ed.D. Superintendent

    Tuesday, Oct 27 2020

  • Secondary Reopening Update

    Dear LBUSD Community: At last night’s Board of Education meeting, staff presented the Board with  recommended revisions to the Phase II schedules when secondary school sites reopen for in-person learning on November 23.  The Board took action to approve the recommended changes to the Phase II schedules for grades 6-12, which are summarized below, and open an in-person learning center for identified students with disabilities and English Learners.  We want to explain the changes to the schedule that will take place once we reopen. Goals of the Schedule Revisions The revisions to the schedule include increased teacher-directed time.  Staff have identified technology to support simultaneous in-person and distance learning where appropriate for instructional content and lesson design.  The schedule revisions also provide time for teachers to provide individual and/or small group intervention and assessment. In-Person or Distance Learning As a reminder, the Board had previously voted to remain in Phase I, distance learning only, through the first trimester.  The District plans to reopen schools in grades 6-12 on November 23.  For students enrolled in the trimester hybrid model, families will have the option to select in-person learning two days per week or 100% distance learning.  Families will receive a notice via ParentSquare in the next few weeks to select their preferred model.   Revised In-Person Learning Schedules In the schedules for Thurston and LBHS students returning to in-person learning, students will attend in-person on their assigned days and participate in two-hour instructional blocks virtually on the other days.  You will receive further communication from your school site about which cohort your student will be assigned. On the days when students do not attend in person, they will log into their virtual classroom at the class start time.  Once students are dismissed and return home, teachers are available for 30-minute blocks on Monday through Thursday for remote small group intervention, support, or assessment.   Thurston In-Person Schedule LBHS In-Person Schedule Revised 100% Distance Learning Schedules For students who are 100% distance learning, the schedule is similar to the current Phase I distance learning schedule.  It includes daily two-hour instructional blocks and also includes the 30-minute session in the afternoon for remote small group intervention, support, or assessment.   Thurston 100% Distance Learning Schedule LBHS 100% Distance Learning Schedule Optional Student COVID-19 Testing Prior to returning to school, we will offer optional COVID-19 testing at our District Office to students attending in-person.  Please watch for a ParentSquare message about student testing date(s). Your school principals will communicate further information regarding schedules, upcoming webinars, and procedures.  Please reach out to them with any questions, or review reopening information on our  District website .  We appreciate your patience and partnership as we reopen our secondary schools. Sincerely, Jason Viloria, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

    Friday, Oct 23 2020