INSIDE LBUSD PODCAST EPISODE #11 LAUNCHES

Welcome back to this week's episode of Inside LBUSD, which covers topics based on our core commitments of every student every day; continuous improvement; and relationships matter. In episode #11, Dr. Michael Keller and Nurse Kelly Schultz present the first LBUSD Covid update for 2022. You can listen to Inside LBUSD at https://www.lbusd.org/resources/podcast , Podbean, Apple, Google, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Friday, Jan 14 2022

The Inside Scoop: Superintendent's Monthly Newslette...

Dear LBUSD Staff, Wondering what happened in LBUSD last month? Check out The Inside Scoop: Superintendent's Monthly Newsletter ! Sincerely, Jason Viloria, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

Friday, Jan 14 2022

School Board Meeting: Thursday, January 13, 2022

  School Board Meeting Thursday, January 13, 2022 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education  will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at 6:00 p.m.   in person  and broadcast live at:  www.lbusd.org/liveboardmeeting .   The full agenda has been posted here.   Location:  Thurston Middle School Library 2100 Park Ave. Laguna Beach, CA 92651   Schedule Closed Session: 5 :00 p.m . Open Session: 6:00 p.m . Mask Protocol All in-person attendees are required to wear masks. Those without a face mask will not be permitted into the meeting room, regardless of vaccination status. - Source CDPH Guidance for the use of Face Coverings 7/28/21   Public Comments Public Comment is accepted in writing prior to the meeting, or in person (Thurston Library).  Public comments will be accepted during the designated public comment periods of the meeting. Speaking time will be limited to three (3) minutes per speaker, twenty (20) minutes per topic.   Public Comment via electronic submission may be submitted no later than Thursday, January 13, 2022, by 12:00 p.m. via the following link:  January 13, 2022, Public Comment Request Form.  * Please note that public comment will not be accepted via Zoom during the meeting so please plan accordingly.   In-person speakers will be called upon at the appropriate time during the meeting: Topics on the agenda may be addressed during the Board’s consideration of the item. Topics not on the agenda that are within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction may be addressed during the public comment, non-agenda items section.    

Tuesday, Jan 11 2022

Updates on COVID Guidance & Rapid Test Kits For Stud...

Dear LBUSD Families,   To reduce COVID-19 transmission on campuses, particularly as the Omicron variant surges, the CDPH has committed to making millions of rapid antigen testing kits available to California students through their parents and guardians as soon as this week. State health officials have stressed that there is no statewide testing mandate, but families are encouraged to use the at-home tests as an added precaution.    As of today, we have received about 40% of our allocation of rapid test kits for LBUSD students. Every student is eligible to receive one kit containing two rapid tests. * These kits are intended for student use only.   Kits will be available for pick-up between 8:15 to 4:30 tomorrow, January 7, and Monday, January 10, on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Kit distribution will take place at the District Office parking lot located at 550 Blumont (across the street from the high school) Pull to the loading zone directly in front of the office; please remain in your vehicle; a staff member will come to your car to verify your ID and provide you with a kit(s).   Only parents/guardians with a valid ID can pick up their student(s) kit. *Students will not be able to pick up testing kits. Kits are On/Go COVID-19 Antigen Self Tests - Instructions will be included.   The state has developed flyers in English and Spanish that explain when to test your child and what steps to take if you get a positive test result. More information can be found on the CDPH website .   We will let you know once we receive the remaining kits from the county.    The guidance from Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) has changed regarding how we handle cases of positive students and close contacts to positive individuals. The chart below details the new changes. Due to an overwhelming number of cases, please know it may take school nurses up to 48 hours to respond based on level of need.      Status Immediate Action Day 5 Test Negative* ( Please send a picture of the negative test to your school nurse ) Day 5 Test Positive COVID +  Isolate and contact school Nurse Ok, to return to school on day 6 if symptoms are improving. Without a test, students may return after day 10. Stay in isolation and contact the school nurse. ( Anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should continue to wear a well-fitting mask indoors and outdoors while around others through at least day 10.)       Status Immediate Action Symptomatic Symptom-Free Close Contact Fully Vaccinated Student  Check and continue to monitor for symptoms Quarantine, and contact school nurse Attend school and extracurricular activities without quarantine restrictions  Close Contact Unvaccinated Student Check and continue to monitor for symptoms Quarantine (minimum of 5 days w/ negative test) and contact the school nurse. Students cannot return before day 10 until proof of a negative test is provided to the school nurse.*No extracurricular participation through day 10.   TMS/TOW School Nurse: Kelly Schultz, RN  kschultz@lbusd.org EMS/LBHS School Nurse: Pam Majd, RN  pmajd@lbusd.org   Please remember the following mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in schools:   All students and staff will continue to wear a mask while indoors in our school buildings. Masks continue to be optional outdoors, with the exception of students that have been placed on Modified Quarantine. Please keep your child home from school when they have any symptoms of COVID-19, including:   Runny nose,  Sore throat,  Cough,  Low-grade fever, Loss of taste/smell, Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, Headache or body aches   Screen your child each morning for any of the symptoms mentioned above, and keep them home and contact your school’s nurse or health clerk for further direction.   There is ample evidence that vaccination is the greatest protection against COVID-19 for children (age 5 and up) and adults.   You may find out more information about COVID-19 vaccination for your child (age 5 and up) at the OCHCA Covid-19 Vaccine Resources Page or the following:   Your Child’s Health Provider  Vaccines.gov MyTurn.ca.gov Othena.com   Vaccines are readily available through local pharmacies and clinics, and most no longer require an appointment.    There is no current guidance for shutting down schools based on case count. We want to assure you LBUSD reports all confirmed positive cases to OCHCA. Please note that any decision to close schools would be made in conjunction with the OCHCA. At this time, there is no indication of a need to close.   We want to thank all of our LBUSD community for your continued support. Below we have included a screenshot of our COVID Dashboard as our website platform is still experiencing difficulties. * The data in this graph include staff and students who tested positive but may not have been on our sites or campuses.

Friday, Jan 07 2022

Important Welcome Back Message from LBUSD Administra...

Dear Laguna Beach Unified Families, We are thrilled to welcome you back and wish you all a happy new year. We hope you are relaxed, recharged, and ready to kick off the second half of the 21-22 school year strong.  We are honored to be a part of a fantastic learning community full of caring and compassionate students, parents, and staff. We welcome and value your positive energy and dedication towards ensuring a school community that celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion. In light of recent concerns brought to the district's attention around anti-Semitic statements being used at Thurston Middle School, we want to express our commitment to ensure that every family feels safe and welcome. We recognize that anti-Semitic rhetoric has a negative impact on perceptions of safety. We have and will continue to address any type of discriminatory behavior promptly using appropriate discipline strategies. All four of Laguna Beach Unified Schools have been designated by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as No Place for Hate schools for the past four years. No Place for Hate is a collaborative initiative that provides PreK–12 schools with an organizing framework for students, administrators, teachers, and family members to develop long-term solutions for creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable climate. No Place for Hate schools receive their designation in the following ways: Building inclusive and safe communities in which respect and equity are the goals and where all students can thrive. Empowering students, faculty, administration, and family members to stand against bias and bullying by incorporating new and existing programs under one powerful message. Sending a clear, unified message that all students have a place where they belong, are valued, and should be treated equitably. We recognize that this work is continually ongoing and ever-evolving. As a public education organization, we have a special obligation to uplift, support, and raise awareness aligned with the needs of the students we serve. ALL  students have the right to be safe, healthy, loved, and educated. Because of this, it is part of our mission to continuously strive toward equitable access to education for ALL  students so that they may thrive in our schools and within our community. We believe all individuals should be treated with respect and dignity, no matter their race, ethnicity, native language, ability, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, indigenous heritage, or national origin. We have been and will continue to be advocates for equity and social justice for the families we serve. Our goal is to ensure a safe and inclusive learning community and to activate students to become global citizens and leaders. Our school community stands against all forms of hate, harassment, and discrimination. We are proud to have partnered with Education Elements to ensure every student has a voice in their school and classroom, including communities of color, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, and multilingual learners. Please use this opportunity to speak with your child about the power of words. We must work together to ensure our students understand the impact of such actions, including their impact on others and the broader community. LBUSD wants to thank our families for supporting us in providing an environment that protects students from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Additional resources have been attached below. In partnership, Dr. Jason Viloria, Superintendent Dr. Jason Allemann, LBHS Principal Mr. Chris Duddy, El Morro Principal Dr. Julie Hatchel, TOW Principal Mr. Joe Vidal, TMS Principal Discipline Policy The LBUSD Board of Education recently adopted Board Policy 5144 , Discipline, at the December 16th meeting. Our LBUSD schools will continue to uphold the high expectations we set regarding student behavior and those students who violate the code of conduct will be subject to appropriate disciplinary measures including and up to suspension and expulsion as set forth in the policy and California Education Code.  Board policy states that we are to use strategies that focus on providing students with needed supports; communicating clear, appropriate, and consistent expectations and consequences for student conduct; and ensuring equity and continuous improvement in implementing district discipline policies and practices. Disciplinary measures that may result in loss of instructional time or cause students to be disengaged from school, such as detention, suspension, and expulsion, shall be imposed only when required or permitted by law or when other means of correction have been documented to have failed.   Our site principals have been and will continue to work with staff, students, and stakeholders to develop an updated discipline matrix that lists violations and consequences for each as allowed by law. References for Families Families with Concerns Are Encouraged to: Contact your child's principal. Text-a-Tip: (858) 848-7TIP; (858) 848-7847; and the adoption of our new anonymous 24/7/365 tip reporting service,  WeTip 2.0 , starting in late January 2022 and beyond. Anti-Defamation League: Table-Talk: Family Conversations about Current Events LBUSD Equity Page No Place For Hate

Tuesday, Jan 04 2022

Happy New Year Testing Reminder

Dear LBUSD Families, Happy New Year! Our goal is to keep students safe and healthy for in-person instruction. As we return to school following winter break, we are encouraging all students to take a COVID-19 test before their return or on the day of their return as part of our efforts to reduce the community spread of COVID-19 and to keep our students safe in the classroom. A negative COVID-19 test result is not required to return to school after the winter break.  There are multiple ways to get tested for COVID-19, now or in the coming days:  You may request a free test kit from the Orange County Healthcare Agency by following this link:   https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/covid-19-testing#whoshouldgettested . Register for a free COVID-19 test at drive-through clinics set up throughout Orange County from 8 am-4:30 pm Monday-Friday. Appointments can be made by texting “COVID” to 888-210-6758. You will receive a response to the text with a link to register for a testing appointment located in either: Newport Beach, OC Fair Grounds, or Tustin/Irvine.  The school district and your child’s school site have substantial supplies of free PCR/Saliva COVID-19 available, however, our anticipated resupply has been delayed due to supply chain disruptions.  We anticipate more COVID-19 testing supplies arriving later next week. You may request a free COVID-19 test, while supplies last, on the non-student day, January 3, 2022, or at any time thereafter during the pandemic.  A free PCR/Saliva test kit may be picked up at the LBUSD District Office, on Monday, January 3, 2022, while supplies last, located at 550 Blumont St., Laguna Beach, 92651, from 9 am-3 pm, or later in the week at your child’s school site.  Please remember the following mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in schools: All students and staff will continue to wear a mask while indoors in our school buildings. Masks continue to be optional outdoors.  Keep your child home from school when they have any symptoms of COVID-19, including: Runny nose,  Sore throat,  Cough,  Low-grade fever, Loss of taste/smell, Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, Headache or body aches Screen your child each morning for any of the symptoms mentioned above, and keep them home and contact your school’s nurse or health clerk for further direction. There is ample evidence that the greatest protection against COVID-19 for children (age 5 and up) and adults is vaccination.  You may find out more information about COVID-19 vaccination for your child (age 5 and up) at:  OCHCA Covid-19 Vaccine Resources Page , or at the following: Your Child’s Health Provider  Vaccines.gov MyTurn.ca.gov Othena.com Vaccines are readily available through local pharmacies and clinics, and most no longer require an appointment. Our local pharmacy, Bushard’s Pharmacy, in downtown Laguna Beach, has vaccine appointments available for pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 on Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 from 12 pm-4:30 pm. Parents can set a pediatric appointment at Bushard’s Pharmacy, here: https://app.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=22058703&appointmentType=29255379 Additionally, Bushard’s Pharmacy is offering adult/regular Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, from 10 am-3:30 pm, and appointments can be made by following this link:  https://app.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=22058703&appointmentType=25425849 I wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and joyful New Year! Sincerely, Jason Viloria, Ed.D. Superintendent

Wednesday, Dec 29 2021

Happy New Year Testing Reminder

Dear LBUSD Staff, Happy New Year! As we return to school following winter break, we are encouraging all staff to take a COVID-19 test before your return or upon the day of your return as part of our efforts to reduce the community spread of COVID-19 and keep staff safe at work. A negative test result is not required to return to work after the winter break. There are multiple ways to get tested for COVID-19, now or in the coming days:  You may request a free test kit from the Orange County Healthcare Agency by following this link:   https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/covid-19-testing#whoshouldgettested . Register for a free COVID-19 test at drive-through clinics set up throughout Orange County from 8 am-4:30 pm Monday-Friday. Appointments can be made by texting “COVID” to 888-210-6758. You will receive a response to the text with a link to register for a testing appointment located in either: Newport Beach, OC Fair Grounds, or Tustin/Irvine.  The school district has substantial supplies of free PCR/Saliva COVID-19 available, however, our anticipated resupply has been delayed due to supply chain disruptions.  We anticipate more COVID-19 testing supplies arriving later next week. You may request a free COVID-19 test, while supplies last, on the non-student day, January 3, 2022, or at any time thereafter during the pandemic. A free PCR/Saliva test kit may be picked up at the LBUSD District Office, located at 550 Blumont St., Laguna Beach, 92651, from 9 am-3 pm.  With flu season in full swing, we wanted to share our  21-22 COVID-19 protocols once again as a reminder of the safety guidelines we need everyone to follow.  Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently updated their quarantine requirements, we are required to follow the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Orange County Healthcare Agency’s (OCHCA) adopted recommendations for quarantine or isolation. We anticipate updates in the near future and will share those pending updates with staff as soon as possible.  There is ample evidence that the greatest protection against COVID-19 for children (age 5 and up) and adults is vaccination.  You may find out more information about COVID-19 vaccination at:  OCHCA Covid-19 Vaccine Resources Page , or at the following: Your Health Provider  Vaccines.gov MyTurn.ca.gov Othena.com Vaccines are readily available through local pharmacies and clinics, and most no longer require an appointment. Our local pharmacy, Bushard’s Pharmacy, in downtown Laguna Beach, has vaccine appointments available for adult Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, from 10 am-3:30 pm. Adult vaccine appointments can be made by following this link:  https://app.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=22058703&appointmentType=25425849 I wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and joyful New Year! Sincerely, Jason Viloria, Ed.D. Superintendent

Wednesday, Dec 29 2021

Important Safety Information

To All Laguna Beach Unified Families: On Thursday, December 16,  we shared with families a non-specific national threat related to school safety that was circulating on social media across the United States. At that time, we did not have any credible local concerns and out of an abundance of caution increased police presence at our schools on December 17.  On Saturday, December 18 in the evening, the Laguna Beach Unified School District became aware of a more specific social media threat that a student posted on Snapchat that had been posted on December 17.  The Laguna Beach Police Department was immediately contacted and has been communicating with the student’s family to assess and intervene regarding the threat. This is currently a police safety matter and we are working closely with law enforcement to investigate and determine the school-related next steps to keep all students and staff safe. We can assure you that the district will take all appropriate steps to address this incident to ensure student and staff safety.  Recent events at schools in other states have heightened everyone’s concern for student safety. We take all threats to school safety seriously and have the full cooperation and partnership of the Laguna Beach Police Department. We encourage you to continue to talk with your child and make them aware of the importance of reporting suspicious activities, threats, or disturbing information to a trusted adult, and to call 9-1-1 in an emergency.  Additionally, please make your child aware that law enforcement agencies take all threats of school violence seriously and are pursuing prosecution even when such incidents are intended as pranks or hoaxes.  Thank you for your ongoing support.

Monday, Dec 20 2021

INSIDE LBUSD PODCAST EPISODE #10 LAUNCHES

Welcome back to this week's episode of Inside LBUSD, which covers topics based on our core commitments of every student, every day; continuous improvement; and relationships matter. In the last podcast episode of 2021, episode #10 with Dr. Michael Keller and Nurse Kelly Schultz provides an update on Covid-19 in the LBUSD community, the number of positive cases we currently have in our schools, and how many of our students have been vaccinated. They also reflect on 2021 and share what their takeaways from this past year have been. You can listen to Inside LBUSD at https://www.lbusd.org/resources/podcast , Podbean, Apple, Google, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Friday, Dec 17 2021

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Dear Laguna Beach Families, We have been made aware that the the Boys and Girls Club Canyon Branch and Bluebird Branch are closed due to inclement weather. All students that attend Boys and Girls Club after school programs will be housed at their respective school sites. LBUSD is working in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club to supervise students until parents can safely pick them up. We are asking parents to pick up their students as soon as possible once school is out .  At this time, all LBUSD students and staff are safe and schools remain open and operational. In the event of a school closure, we will notify students, families, and staff with as much advance notice as possible using a variety of communication tools including email, text, phone calls, and posts to our social media accounts. We appreciate your partnership. Please travel safely.

Tuesday, Dec 14 2021