LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – A federal judge has denied an application seeking to relocate Laguna Beach High School's June 11 graduation ceremony from the Irvine Bowl to Guyer Field, allowing the event to proceed as planned at the Irvine Bowl.

In an order issued June 5, U.S. District Judge Fred W. Slaughter denied the request for a temporary restraining order, finding that the plaintiffs did not make a sufficient showing that they were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims, would suffer irreparable harm in the absence of the requested relief, or that the balance of equities weighed in their favor. The court also found that the requested relief—a relocation of the entire graduation ceremony less than a week before the event—appeared broader than necessary to address the concerns raised by the plaintiffs.

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – Laguna Beach High School's theatre program earned one of its highest honors to date this season, receiving the Spirit of the Macy Award for its production of “Urinetown” and placing second among 57 participating schools from across Orange County and Los Angeles County.

Presented annually by the MACY Awards, the Spirit of the Macy Award recognizes excellence in musical theatre production and program achievement. According to LBHS Theatre Director Meghan Minguez-Marshall, the recognition marks a historic accomplishment for the school's theatre program.

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – Laguna Beach High School student Hudson Quarles, Class of 2026, has completed a new mural in the school's dance studio as part of a capstone project in the Art Entrepreneurship program.

Titled “Two Trees Jiggin'", the mural was funded through a grant from SchoolPower and developed through a collaboration between the LBHS Dance Program and Art Department. Quarles worked under the mentorship of local muralist Claire Pedroza and spent several months developing the design before beginning installation.

The Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education approved an employment agreement with Don Austin, Ed.D., at its June 4 meeting to serve as superintendent of schools effective July 1. Dr. Austin brings more than 30 years of educational experience, including service as superintendent of two California school districts and prior leadership experience in Laguna Beach Unified School District.

Board Member Joan Malczewski brings to the LBUSD Board of Education a distinctive blend of academic expertise as a historian of American education, financial fluency developed through her early career as a CPA, and direct classroom and teacher-mentoring experience.