Tragedies like the one that occurred in Newtown, Conn. tend to make our world a little smaller, sending waves of grief through cities and towns all across the country. Indeed, Sandy Hook Elementary School is nearly 3,000 miles from Irvine, yet the shock and sadness continues to grip our own community.

IUSD Superintendent Terry Walker has issued the following statement on today's tragic events in Newtown, Conn.:

A pair of newly elected school board members officially took the oath of office at Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting, where second-term trustee Gavin Huntley-Fenner was unanimously selected to serve a one-year term as president. Sharon Wallin was tapped to serve as clerk.

Long recognized as a model for academic excellence, the Irvine Unified School District continues to make gains on state assessments, posting an astonishing score of 924 on the most recent Academic Performance Index.

Following an emotional presentation marking the departure of two longtime trustees, the IUSD Board of Education on Tuesday engaged in a lively discussion over revenue enhancement opportunities.

Raymond Watson, who played a major role in shaping the City of Irvine as chief planner for the Irvine Company in the 1960s and ’70s, has died, according to news reports. He was 86.

The Irvine Public Schools Foundation, which raises critically needed funds for IUSD and facilitates a number of innovative programs, recently announced the appointment of Dr. Sharon Salinger as the new chair of its Board of Trustees.