Opinion: The success of the Laguna Beach school district

By Jim Kelly, LBUSD Board Member

As our community navigates the upcoming school board elections, it is crucial to look beyond the noise of criticism and consider the broader picture of our school district’s success and continued improvement. The Laguna Beach Unified School District represents a complex system of educators, librarians, counselors, social workers, coaches, staff, students and families – a system that works tirelessly to create an environment where each child’s educational experience is valued and individualized. It is no coincidence that LBUSD is the highest performing district in Orange County, with an increasing number of students transferring from private schools to culminate their educational journey at Laguna Beach High School each year.

This level of achievement was intentional. It requires navigating a wide range of needs and perspectives and requires the dedication of an entire team. Leading a district that provides such an experience requires a firm vision and focus on relationships that are built, maintained and strengthened over time.

The district’s facilities master plan has been a topic of debate, particularly among Sensible Laguna members. However, their arguments are inconsistent, most recently with each other. At the board’s most recent meeting on Sept. 26, where the Laguna Beach High School modernization project was discussed, the group’s so-called “2,000 strong” group was noticeably absent.

Steve McIntosh’s public comments focused on community use of the pool, saying: “What we’re forgetting is playing in the pool, that’s from a community perspective. Playing in the pool means exactly that. This doesn’t really fit on a 3 foot track. So from a community perspective, this is what it really takes for everyone to ignore that this is a big issue for me.” You can hear this at 1:09:40.

Meanwhile, its co-founder, Gary Kasik, commented: “You are building a pool for the school, for the students, and for our student-athletes. This is a matter of competition, so take the shallow lane away. There was a lot of feedback about how we’re building this for the community; the city voted unanimously to build another pool.” On one hand, McIntosh wants the plan to focus on community use, while Kasik believes the pool should primarily serve student-athletes. These contradictory messages make it difficult to understand your real concern. Furthermore, Kasik’s claim that the city voted to build another reservoir is misleading. Although the city council voted unanimously to end the joint-use agreement with LBUSD, they have not committed to building a second pool. In fact, the city has openly acknowledged that it currently has neither the location nor the funds needed to build a new pool.

While it is easy to criticize and perhaps even easier to propose solutions, true progress requires working together, understanding the nuances of our district, and finding a shared path forward. We live in a community that demands accountability, and LBUSD consistently meets that demand by continually striving to support every student, every day.
As we consider who will guide our schools in the future, it is important to reflect on the type of leadership that will genuinely serve our students, families and community. As a resident, I will vote for Jan Vickers and Lauren Boeck — leaders who understand the complexities of our district and are committed to fostering its continued growth and success. We must not waste taxpayers’ money on petty arguments that consume employees’ time and distract from what really matters – providing the best education possible for everyone.

James Kelly is a trustee of the Laguna Beach Unified School District and a Laguna Beach home owner for 36 years. He is writing as a public citizen.