School Board Wrap-up

The following is from Tuesday’s Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education meeting.

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Artists acknowledged

El Morro Elementary School Principal Chris Duddy and Top of the World Elementary School Principal Ron LaMotte recognized their student artists that designed palettes for the city’s 2011 Children’s Holiday Palette Exhibition.

Duddy introduced Annabelle Kavanaugh, 8 and Audrey Abrahams, 7 for their award-winning works.

“We’re very proud of them,” he said.

LaMotte congratulated two of his students, Elsa Dahle, 9 and Clara Becker, 8, who were not present.

Other students who won are: Katie Baker, 4; Meghan Reardon, 5; Kathryn Callahan, 8; Luca De Mari, 8; Joey Risi, 9; Emily Baker, 11; Katie Glavinovich, 12; Lucas Toro, 12; Nathan Hunt, 13 and Maryellie Jacquez, 16.

The palettes are on display in City Hall.

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Culverhouse gets national recognition

Laguna Beach High School Principal Joanne Culverhouse is featured in a film for the Buick Human Highlight Reel Competition. She was entered by Thurston Middle School math and technology teacher Andrew Crisp. The winning filmmaker has the chance at $13,000. In partnership with the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. (NCAA), the competition highlights former NCAA athletes who are positive influences on their community.

The film, which is available online, tells Culverhouse’s story starting out at the University of Nevada, Reno. Accepted with multiple athletic scholarships, Culverhouse began to suffer academically. Now with two master’s degrees and a doctorate, the experience taught her the importance of combined focus on athletics and academics in schools.

“She’s a great role model and a huge contributor to our school district and our community” Supt. Sherine Smith said.

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SchoolPower surprises with donation

SchoolPower President Marcus Skenderian surprised the board and Culverhouse with a check for $25,000 addressed to high school athletics.

It was recently donated over the weekend by a local family, he said, and the only request is that it touches all of the school’s athletic programs.

— Joanna Clay

Twitter: @JoannaClay