FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CONTACT: ANAKAREN UREÑO
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT
949-497-7700 EXT. 5232

April 22, 2025

Laguna Beach Unified named 2025 California Green Ribbon School “Green Achiever” Honoree

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – The Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) has been named a 2025 California Green Ribbon School (CA-GRS) Green Achiever Honoree by the California Department of Education (CDE) —one of only five recipients statewide to earn the program’s highest honor. The designation recognizes LBUSD’s efforts in promoting environmental sustainability, supporting health and wellness, and advancing environmental literacy throughout the district.

The CA-GRS recognition award is the corresponding state award for the U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools recognition award (ED-GRS) and evaluates applications from public schools, districts, and county offices of education to recognize outstanding achievements in environmental excellence. Application reviews are based on demonstrated progress towards reaching the goals of each of the three ED-GRS Pillars, which are:

• Pillar I: Reduce environmental impact and costs
• Pillar II: Improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff
• Pillar III: Provide effective environmental education, which teaches many disciplines, and is especially good at effectively incorporating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), civic skills, and green career pathways

In April 2022, the LBUSD Board of Education adopted Resolution 22-04 in support of Earth Day, climate action, environmental literacy, and sustainability. This resolution established an Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Task Force to evaluate and improve the district's sustainability practices.

“The Board of Education’s adoption of Resolution 22-04 in 2022 was a pivotal moment in our district’s sustainability journey,” said Acting Superintendent Jeff Dixon. “It laid the foundation for the environmental initiatives we see today and reflects years of intentional planning, key investments in personnel, and collaboration across departments to integrate sustainability into both instruction and operations. This recognition as a Green Achiever reflects the continued commitment of our board, staff, and community that has been essential in creating a healthier, more sustainable future for our students,” he concluded. 

Following the adoption of Resolution 22-04, LBUSD introduced the role of Coordinator of Environmental Literacy to support the integration of sustainability practices across all aspects of the educational experience. This role serves as a bridge between instruction and operations and works directly with teachers to incorporate California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&Cs) into the curriculum while collaborating with site and district teams to align day-to-day practices with sustainability goals.

At the same time, the district expanded the Director of Facilities role to include a focus on sustainability, to ensure that facility planning and operations reflect the district’s long-term environmental goals. This includes aligning energy efficiency efforts, water conservation, waste diversion, and campus upgrades with the district’s broader vision for carbon neutrality and improved student wellness.

The district will soon launch a Sustainability Dashboard that tracks electricity, water, and gas usage across school sites. This tool will support the district’s efforts to monitor resource use and identify areas for improvement. It will also give students access to real data that connects directly to what they learn in the classroom, allowing them to explore patterns, ask questions, and consider how everyday choices affect their environment.

To learn more about LBUSD’s environmental literacy efforts and progress toward its sustainability goals, view the most recent update presented to the Board of Education.

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