Robert Fraisse

The following is from the July 10 meeting of the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Trustees. All pass exit exam Every Laguna Beach High School senior has passed the California High School Exit Exam this year, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Nancy Hubbell announced to the board. "This is really quite amazing," District Superintendent Robert Fraisse said, crediting the Laguna Beach High School principal. "Dr. Austin, you're to be congratulated along with your staff for doing a great job."

Laguna Beach Unified School District classes begin Sept. 2, with orientation for high school students Tuesday and Wednesday. ?Staff members have been working productively all summer to create a smooth and welcoming environment for students as they return to class on Sept. 2. We look forward to an exciting and positive 2008-09 school year,? Supt. Robert Fraisse said. ? Elementary For El Morro and Top of the World elementary schools, school will start at 7:55 a.m. Sept.

The principals of Laguna’s two public elementary schools received a surprise gift in the mail Tuesday. Top of the World and El Morro each received notice from State Superintendent of Schools Jack McConnell that they were selected to be state Distinguished Schools. The award, which is valid for four years, is given to the top 5% of schools each year. This is the first time both campuses have received the award simultaneously, and the first time in several years either has been bestowed the distinction.

Patty Beaver, the Laguna Beach Unified School District’s human resources coordinator, brought back a cherished tradition at Tuesday’s board meeting. The district’s longtime classified employees were awarded for their dedication with certificates, handshakes and hugs. Topping the list, with 32 years of service, was Joan Griffin of El Morro Elementary School, an instructional assistant in the school’s special education program. Top of the World Elementary physical education instructor Clara Candelaria was honored for 28 years of service.

Laguna Beach schools are now ready to handle one of the most dangerous life-threatening emergencies ? a cardiac arrest. After a year of deliberation, the district is implementing a plan for the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the city?s schools. Supt. Robert Fraisse proposed the plan in spring 2007, which went into effect this August, said Ron La Motte, principal of Top of the World Elementary. AEDs are portable computerized devices that can restore normal heart rhythm to people in cardiac arrest.

El Hathaway was voted in as president of the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education at its Tuesday meeting. An eight-year school board veteran, Hathaway also is a past SchoolPower president, and is also on the board of directors for the Laguna Relief and Resource Center. Hathaway, who also has served as board president in the past, has a master’s degree in organizational management. He has announced that this is his final year on the board; his son Trever is a senior at Laguna Beach High School.

For the first time in memory, all four of Laguna Beach?s public schools are simultaneously distinguished. Thurston Middle School was named a California Distinguished School on Wednesday. It joins El Morro and Top of the World elementary schools and Laguna Beach High in sharing the honor, which indicates the top 10% of schools in the state. ?It?s an outstanding award. I?ve worked in a lot of districts with a lot of middle schools, but none?s finer than Thurston,? Laguna Beach Unified Supt.

The Top of the World Elementary PTA recently launched towpta.org, designed to make all PTA information accessible in an effort to facilitate communication and be “eco-friendly.” Created by PTA President Peggy Wolff, Vice President Tammy Skenderian and parent volunteer and web whiz Peter Pillsbury, the site offers an array of information including after-school agendas and registration, calendars and the ability to buy tickets and merchandise, newsletter and hot sheets, photographs, biographies and contacts, and a place to make a donation or volunteer with the PTA. “Our new site is a first step in taking our PTA into the technological age,” Wolff said.