The February 12th board meeting ran seven hours long and ended at 1:00 am. Board Bylaw 9322 passed 3-2 despite opposition from the superintendent, both unions, all written public comment, and staff. As of today, both unions have filed grievances (documented complaint alleging that the school district violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement).

Community members, parents, teachers, neighbors, carry the burden of staying until midnight just to speak to their elected officials. And this feels very much like a deliberate strategy to silence the community voices the board majority has proven they prefer to ignore.

We are committed to continuing to show up and speak to what we believe is a trajectory our district should not be on.

Before diving into the recap, we want to flag something urgent: This Thursday’s Governance Meeting includes a closed-session superintendent evaluation, the second in 10 weeks, with no additional evaluation scheduled under Dr. Glass's contract until September 2026. The open session items on the same night would redefine board authority over site and superintendent roles. Please see the full breakdown below.

At the February 12 Board of Education meeting, the board majority is scheduled to take a second reading and final vote on Bylaw 9322.

The superintendent did not recommend this change. During the January 22 meeting, he provided a detailed memo explaining that the existing policy aligns with best practices in high-performing districts and with California School Boards Association model language. He warned that the proposed revision would weaken shared governance and introduce operational and transparency risks.

Strong words. Necessary words.

In this clip, Board Minority Member Dr. Malczewski outlines serious concerns about governance, transparency, and the erosion of democratic norms on our school board. Her message is not about politics or personalities. It is about protecting students, educators, and the integrity of our public institutions.

When power is consolidated quietly, professional expertise is sidelined, and misinformation is amplified, the real cost is borne by our schools and our community. Public education depends on trust, openness, and accountability, not secrecy or intimidation.

These are issues worth paying attention to. Our schools, our educators, and our students deserve better.

One year ago, a small group of parents came together out of concern after a shift in leadership and control of our LBUSD school board. What began as a response to that moment has grown into something enduring.

In just twelve months, FUEL has become a trusted, parent-led organization of over 500 supporters made up of parents, concerned community members, grandparents, former school board members and LBUSD teacher and staff. 

A detailed recap of the January 22 LBUSD Board Meeting, including governance concerns, proposed changes to Board Bylaw 9322, treatment of professional staff, public comment, and key moments that highlight why transparency and shared leadership matter for our schools.

This past Thursday’s Board meeting reflected both the progress our district can make and the level of engagement our community continues to bring to our schools. The agenda covered curriculum, facilities, innovation, and long-term planning, and it was clear throughout the evening how much work students, families, educators, and community members have invested to move these efforts forward.