LBUSD sets six goals spanning literacy, mental health, arts and the “Laguna experience”
By SARA HALL
The Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) Board of Education last week unanimously approved six district goals focused on reading and writing, mental health and wellness, student growth and challenge, governance clarity, visual and performing arts and the “Laguna experience.”
Board members voted 5-0 on September 24 to approve the 2026-27 school board goals. The “visioning process” is intended to inform future district priorities, organizational work and the metrics used to determine success.
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Courtesy of LBUSD
The school board approved six visioning goals for the district, including a focus on visual and performing arts
Overall, board members praised the goals and commended staff’s work on the effort.
“These are excellent goals. I appreciate all the hard work that you all did on this,” said Board President Sheri Morgan.
She noted that the goals have been in the works for some time.
“I’m super excited for the swiftness with which you were able to capture what has been discussed over the last two years and desired by this board for our students and for the direction of our district,” Morgan commented.
Board members also suggested a few minor adjustments and clarifications to the language.
The final categories were determined through two years of stakeholder engagement and school board discussions. In July, the board agreed on several areas of focus.
With the goals now approved, they will be included in administrative evaluations, budget allocations will be determined accordingly and a routine progress schedule will be set.
The “Laguna experience” goal states that “every LBUSD student will experience a school environment that is joyful, connected, challenging, creative, welcoming, inclusive, and reflective of the distinctive character of Laguna Beach.”
“We will build on a strong foundation of engaging and meaningful learning,” said Jennifer Moss, interim director of special education and program specialist.
The school district will develop a K-12 Laguna experience map and establish a participation index for students across schools, grade levels, programs and student groups, Moss explained. The district is also conducting a feasibility study to explore expanded programming for students with extensive support needs, she added.
For the mental health goal, the aim is to “strengthen student well-being by helping students develop self-awareness, personal strengths, healthy coping strategies, resilience, supportive relationships, and the skills necessary to navigate personal and academic challenges.”
The district plans to continue periodically reviewing student wellness data as an ongoing best practice, explained Director of Social Emotional Support Michael Keller. The data will measure student belonging, experiences with stress, levels of resilience and access to trusted adults.
Another goal ensures that “every LBUSD student will experience meaningful academic growth, appropriate challenge, and access to relevant learning opportunities that reflect individual interests, strengths, readiness, and future goals.”
The district is reviewing any potential gaps between courses and across grade spans and subjects, said Coordinator of Learning and Innovation Andrew Crisp.
As part of the governance-related goal, the aim is to “maintain a current, transparent, and locally responsive policy and governance framework through which the Board of Education establishes direction and expectations and staff implements that direction through clear roles, responsibilities, and predictable organizational processes.”
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The district also aims to ensure that “every student will develop strong reading and writing skills and the stamina, habits, comprehension, communication skills, and confidence necessary to engage independently with increasingly complex texts and communicate ideas effectively in writing.”
This goal defines literacy as more than a test score, said Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Chad Mabery.
Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator Alexis Karol was encouraged that the arts were also emphasized in the goals. There are already many arts opportunities, she noted. The district will now examine how those experiences connect across grade levels and school sites.
The objective mentions “meaningful connections with Laguna Beach’s arts community” and leveraging the city’s “distinctive arts identity to create experiences that extend beyond traditional coursework and connect students with practicing artists, community institutions, and authentic audiences.”
During public comment, Ketta Brown commended the goals and said she hoped they would be well executed. She also emphasized the governance framework goal, which states that the board establishes direction and staff implements it.
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Sara Hall covers City Hall and is a regular contributor to Stu News Laguna.
