Staff members with 30 years or more of service at the Lucerne Valley USD hold their awards with three school board members congratulating them.
By Peter Day, LVUSD Social Media
The Lucerne Valley Unified School District hosted its annual Welcome Back Breakfast on Monday in the Sgt. Brian L. Walker gymnasium at the Middle/High School. The event gave staff members an opportunity to touch base with others and hear encouraging words from the superintendent as the 2025-26 school year gets underway.
Superintendent Peter Livingston greeted the district team, which continues expanding to meet the needs of increased enrollment. Mr. Livingston is starting his 10th year with the LVUSD and has 30 years in education.
The team watched a specially produced video by director Hugo Pallete that captures the heart of Lucerne Valley Unified School District and Lucerne Valley—honoring our past, celebrating our present, and envisioning the bright future ahead. The video features narration by longtime school board member Tom Courtney.
The featured speaker was student Gabriel Garcia, an incoming high school freshman who brings a 4.1 GPA along with loads of positive memories from his years at Lucerne Valley Elementary and the Middle School. He has “excitement and determination” going into high school and looks forward to becoming a student-athlete, he said.
Superintendent Peter Livingston and Assistant Superintendent Olga Fisher make presentations.
DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS
Mr. Livingston shared numerous highlights from recent years. This past school year longtime FFA advisor Troy Van Bavel was named the California Teacher of the Year by the Small School Districts’ Association. He shared the belief statement that, “We embrace being a small district where each student has a name and not just a number.”
Here are a few other highlights of Mr. Livingston’s presentation:
• Enrollment has skyrocketed from 669 students in 2015-16 to 1,163 in 2024-25.
• Average Daily Attendance (ADA) increased 2.38% from the prior year to 92.88% ADA at P-2 (where the state takes the attendance count for funding purposes).
• In 2024-25 the Elementary School had 4.95% growth in students who “Met or Exceeded the Standard” in English Language Arts (ELA) and 4.15% growth in Math.
• The Middle School had 3.57% growth in “Met or Exceeded” and 9.82% growth in “Standard Nearly Met” for ELA and 2.37% growth in “Met or Exceeded” and 1.74% growth in “Standard Nearly Met” for Math.
• Meanwhile, the High School had “a remarkable” 18.66% growth in Met or Exceeded” in ELA and 4.67% growth in “Standard Nearly Met, Met or Exceeded.”
At the event, the district honored employees with certificates who have served for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 or more and one employee with 45 years of service. Also, the district introduced all new employees who have been hired since the last back-to-school breakfast last year.
Also department heads introduced their new staff members.
School board members Chelsea LaGrange (president), Jim Harvey, and 30-year board member Tom Courtney were in attendance.
Recently Mr. Livingston expressed his gratitude to staff in a letter to district staff:
“As we embark on our continued academic journey together, I want to express my continued gratitude for your dedication and commitment to our students. The work that is done by each and every one of you demonstrates your commitment to our students, our district and our community.”
The breakfast burrito breakfast was catered by Cafe 247, and a number of educational, health insurance and retirement-oriented businesses and more were on hand to talk about their company’s offerings for educators.
Twenty-five years employees were recognized.
SCHOOL STARTS AUGUST 6th
For most students, the first day for Lucerne Valley schools will be on Wednesday, August 6th. LVMHS hosted a 7-9 Grades Open House on Monday with a 10-12 Grade Open House on Tuesday from 4-6 p.m.
The Elementary School will host a “Meet The Teachers” event for 1st-6th Grade from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5th. A Kindergarten Orientation (Not TK) will be held on Wednesday, August 6th at 8:30 a.m. A Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Orientation will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 6th. Kindergarten and TK school begins on Thursday, August 7th.
Twenty year employee is recognized.
Ten years or more employees.
Five years or more employees.
Award winners.