LAGUNA BEACH : Schools May Require Community Service

In a groundbreaking effort to link public education and community service, the Laguna Beach Unified School District board today will consider requiring high school students to complete 40 hours of public service in order to graduate.

If the board approves the program, it will be the first time an Orange County public school district has linked community service to high school graduation. Some educators say that, in light of recent social services cutbacks prompted by the state budget deficit, the community could reap the rewards of such a policy.

“Laguna Beach is obviously a leader in this direction of making community service a graduation requirement,” said Bill Habermehl, assistant superintendent of instructional services for the Orange County Department of Education. “In the ‘90s, you’re going to see much more of this. The tight budgets will force that issue. It’s a way of garnering support without contributing dollars.”

If Laguna Beach Unified is ahead of the pack, others aren’t far behind.

In the Capistrano Unified School District, education planners are also considering the merits of such a program, said William Eller, associate superintendent of instruction.

“Some of the strategic planning teams have been discussing a community service component as a recommendation they may want to make for the graduation requirement,” Eller said. “I’ll be interested to see how Laguna Beach’s (program) goes.”

Although this would be a first for public schools, some Orange County parochial schools, such as Cornelia Connelly School of the Holy Child Jesus and Mater Dei and Santa Margarita high schools, already require community involvement.

The proposal before the Laguna Beach board Tuesday would require that Laguna Beach High School students put in at least 40 hours of public service over a four-year period.

The program would begin this year, but 1993 graduates would only be required to complete 10 hours of service.

“The experience will provide students with personal growth experiences, serving as model approaches to life-long volunteerism,” Laguna Beach Unified Supt. Paul M. Possemato said in his memorandum to the district’s Board of Trustees.

Board member Tim Carlyle said the five-member panel supports the idea, which has been discussed during previous meetings.