FUEL Meeting Recap - November 13 LBUSD Board Meeting

Thank you to everyone who showed up, watched online, sent comments, or stayed with us throughout the night. It was a long meeting with moments of real substance, a few bright spots, and several areas that deserve continued attention. Both Dr. Glass and Trustee Hills were unable to attend. We wish them and their families well.

What Comes Next:

FUEL Event: Let’s celebrate a year of hard work, collaboration, and advocacy for LBUSD students! We couldn’t have done it without this incredible group.

We’ll be gathering at Laguna Brewery on December 7th at 4:00 PM. Join us for good company, good conversation, and a chance to talk through upcoming school board issues before the holiday season takes over. Bring the whole family!
We’d love to see you there! Let us know if you can make it! LINK

FUEL is committed to open, honest governance. Newly released district emails and Trustee Howard Hills’s recent “FUTURE” advertisement raise serious questions about transparency, professionalism, and the appropriate use of public office.

Highlights from the October 9, 2025 Board Meeting

Dr. Glass’s 100-Day Report: Building a Legacy for the Next Generation, Insurance: Complex Issues, Steady Solutions, Board Decorum: Our Community Deserves Better, and Communication and Transparency: A Crucial Reset

This week’s FUEL newsletter highlights key discussions from the October 9 Board Meeting, including updates on district health benefit funding, board conduct, communication practices, and Dr. Glass’s 100-Day Report. We share community reactions, public comments, and our call for professionalism, transparency, and unity in serving Laguna Beach students and families.

We are sharing important clips linked in our newsletter here.

During the October 9 Board Meeting, more than two dozen teachers, staff, and community members submitted written comments addressing recent events and communication from Trustee Howard Hills. The comments reflect a deep sense of concern, frustration, and sadness about the tone of board discourse and its impact on the school community.

Many employees described a work environment that feels divided and unsafe, expressing fear of retaliation and disappointment in the lack of professionalism from certain trustees. Others emphasized their continued commitment to students and colleagues but urged the Board to restore stability, mutual respect, and trust.

A consistent theme throughout the 27 pages of comments is the desire for leadership that models respect, collaboration, and accountability. Staff and community members called on the Board to reaffirm its shared norms and to create a culture where educators and families feel valued, supported, and safe.

During the October 9 Board Meeting, more than two dozen teachers, staff, and community members submitted written comments addressing recent events and communication from Trustee Howard Hills. The comments reflect a deep sense of concern, frustration, and sadness about the tone of board discourse and its impact on the school community.

Many employees described a work environment that feels divided and unsafe, expressing fear of retaliation and disappointment in the lack of professionalism from certain trustees. Others emphasized their continued commitment to students and colleagues but urged the Board to restore stability, mutual respect, and trust.

A consistent theme throughout the 27 pages of comments is the desire for leadership that models respect, collaboration, and accountability. Staff and community members called on the Board to reaffirm its shared norms and to create a culture where educators and families feel valued, supported, and safe.

We encourage parents and community members to attend the September meeting, submit public comment, or email the Board. This is a key opportunity to affirm that policies must serve students first and uphold transparency.

See our detailed thoughts in the documents below.

At the August 14 Board Meeting, the Board reviewed proposed changes to Board Policy 9310, which outlines how our district adopts and enforces its policies. The current version follows the California School Boards Association (CSBA) recommendation, which centers on student learning, equity, and collaborative governance.

Two versions of the policy were presented. One removed key student-focused language and expanded the Board majority's ability to change or suspend policies without clear limits. Superintendent Dr. Glass offered a revised version aimed at softening that language, but concerns remain. The current draft still shifts the focus away from students and blurs the line between board oversight and district administration.

FUEL is open to meaningful revisions, but we believe moving away from CSBA’s proven framework risks unintended consequences. Our core message is clear: students must remain the top priority.

This summer has been a season of reflection, reconnection, and renewed momentum for FUEL. While we took a pause in some of our communications, we aimed to give our new superintendent the space to settle in, as well as regroup as a board to reflect on what we have accomplished and where we plan to go. As we prepare for a busy Fall, we want to share highlights from a few important events, along with a preview of what lies ahead.

Initial Meeting with Dr. Jason Glass

On July 16, FUEL board members gathered in person with Dr. Jason Glass, LBUSD’s new superintendent. This was a warm and encouraging first conversation, and we are feeling hopeful about the working partnership ahead with Dr. Glass and district leadership.

A New Chapter for Laguna Beach Schools -

We are thrilled to share that the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board has unanimously selected Dr. Jason E. Glass of Kentucky as our next Superintendent. This marks a pivotal turning point for our schools, bringing fresh energy, optimism, and the opportunity to align around a shared vision for the future of public education in Laguna Beach.

On April 21st, 2025, FUEL hosted a District Finance Webinar to help community members better understand how funds are allocated and spent within Laguna Beach Unified School District. The event featured a clear breakdown of the district’s budget, revenue sources, and spending priorities, as well as an open Q&A session with attendees. With a focus on transparency and community engagement, the webinar offered valuable insights for parents, educators, and stakeholders invested in the future of our schools.

A board meeting that dragged on for nearly five hours left us deeply concerned for our students, staff, and the future of LBUSD.

FUEL Updates - Where we are at in the search for Laguna Beach Unified School Districts next superintendent.

A published Letter to the Editor by Jeff Roedersheimer, Laguna Beach resident, father, public school supporter and FUEL board member “You want to know who to listen to? Ask the people who’ve shown up—year after year—for Laguna’s kids. Not the ones who just got loud when a community facility renovation got close.”

Published Letter to the Editor by Newth Morris (father of three) FUEL Laguna Board Member.

In the run-up to and since the last election, a few loud voices have blamed Superintendent Jason Viloria for Laguna Beach Unified School District’s (LBUSD) decline, citing Laguna Beach High School’s (LBHS) U.S. News rankings drop from 38th in California in 2012 to 211th in 2024 (173 positions). Their claims mislead. This slide, spanning Viloria’s tenure (2016-2024), reflects changes in how rankings are calculated, not local failure.

Published Letter to the Editor by Newth Morris (father of three) FUEL Laguna Board Member. -

One more point, at various times I have heard citizens question why we would invest anything in the schools since our population is declining. I find this profoundly nihilistic and depressing – to suggest we should all just sit back and watch the town die. Moreover, it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy as families will no longer move into town for our amazing schools. As houses turnover, they will be bought by out-of-town people who have no connection to the vibrant heart of our community resulting in a place that is dead nine months out of the year.

We are endowed with an immense natural, cultural and historical legacy which we should all endeavor to preserve.

Newth Morris (proud father of three kids in the district)

FUEL Laguna Board Member

Published Letter to the Editor by Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal, President, FUEL Laguna Beach

Elections have consequences, and this one served as a wake-up call. Now, a broad coalition of passionate, capable and vigilant community members is paying attention and is ready to take necessary action. We refuse to dwell on the past—we are focused on the future for our children and the generations to come.

Our schools deserve better. Our children deserve better. And we are here to ensure they get it.

Published Letter to the Editor by Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal, President, FUEL Laguna Beach

The Laguna Beach Unified School District has a history of excellence—built through years of thoughtful leadership, dedicated educators and a community deeply invested in student success. We are looking for a superintendent who will embrace and advance the mission of this district: to ensure that each student gains the knowledge, experience, world perspectives, and skills needed to become a lifelong learner and producer in a competitive and interconnected world.

To potential candidates, know that you will be stepping into a district with engaged, passionate, and supportive families who believe in our district’s vision: We take ownership of each child’s learning in our schools, accepting no limits on potential. Parents and community members have come together to form Families Unified for Education in Laguna, a non-partisan 501(c)(4) with the primary purpose of promoting and advocating for a collaborative, transparent, and student-focused education system of the Laguna Beach Unified School District.  Put in the context of a Sup search, we are dedicated to ensuring that this process—and the leadership that emerges from it—keeps students at the center of every decision. We see ourselves not as adversaries but as partners in this work, ready to support the next superintendent in building on the district’s strengths and ensuring that our schools continue to thrive.

The students of this district deserve greatness. They deserve a leader who believes in their limitless potential and will champion their success. We are committed to working alongside the board, the search firm, and the future superintendent to make sure that happens.

The FUEL Board: Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal, Iva Pawling, Newth Morris, Claudia Morris, Emily Rolfing, Matt Gummow, Danielle Roedersheimer, Julie Gersten and Meredith McMahon

Published Letter to the Editor by Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal, FUEL President, Laguna Beach

Mr. Hills, it’s time to take a cue from Silent Money. Instead of clinging to policies and undermining staff, get quiet. Observe the extraordinary work that dedicated professionals have accomplished to date. Celebrate their success. Then, simply ask, “How can I help you take this to the next level?”

Laguna Beach students deserve a school board that fosters progress—not one bogged down in distractions.

The Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) is moving forward with plans to reconstruct the pool at Laguna Beach High School (LBHS). As part of the approval process, the district must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to evaluate potential environmental impacts and ensure the project is designed responsibly.

Following an Initial Study, the district determined that all potential environmental impacts—such as noise, lighting, and water use—can be fully mitigated, allowing them to prepare a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) rather than a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The public comment period for submitting written comments on the MND has now closed, and the district is holding a public hearing to decide whether to formally adopt the document and move the project forward.