FUEL hosts District Finance 101 with jeff dixon
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.
You can view the full presentation and watch the webinar recording below.
See our Upcoming Events page for more opportunities to learn and engage.
FUEL Board: The 4/17 School Board Meeting Follow Up
A board meeting that dragged on for nearly five hours left us deeply concerned for our students, staff, and the future of LBUSD.
LBUSD Staff Survey Results Are In — We Must Listen
The numbers below are not just statistics—they are the voices of our teachers, counselors, and support staff. They are the backbone of our schools and the heart of our children’s daily educational experience.
Union leaders for all teachers and staff presented surveys that had the highest participation rates in recent history:
87–91% do not feel supported by this board.
94–97% believe the board’s direction is negative.
95% oppose the board taking more control over curriculum.
89% have voted NO CONFIDENCE in the board’s leadership.
After hearing these devastating results, the board’s response was a single dismissive comment — blaming false narratives rather than taking any responsibility for the real, serious concerns raised.
This is not just frustration — it’s exhaustion. This reflects not only a crisis of confidence, but a call to all of us—parents, guardians, neighbors, and community members—to listen, to understand, and to act. Supporting our teachers and staff isn’t optional — it’s essential. They are the heart and soul of our schools, the reason our children thrive
Our Students Should Be Off Limits
Students and staff raised concerns about inappropriate interactions between Board members and students — crossing professional boundaries through direct communication, social media, and phone calls. Rather than taking responsibility, Board members denied wrongdoing and offered no apology.
We are deeply concerned about the Board Majority inserting themselves into student life, risking student well-being.
Disrespect and Dismissal, In Public View
Meetings are growing longer, draining staff, families, and our community — and continuing a pattern of overreach and trying to solve problems that don’t exist.
The discussion of agenda items could have been addressed through respectful, professional collaboration with staff - instead they are being asked to repeatedly justify their work to appease the Board Majority’s distrust.
Last night’s behavior was reactive and disrespectful, harming our district’s culture. The tone was adversarial, not collaborative — failing to support students, staff, or model effective leadership.
What Was Accomplished
Two important wins emerged: Acting Superintendent Jeff Dixon’s contract was approved, and next year’s curriculum review timeline will start earlier to allow for more meaningful feedback — both positive steps forward.
What This Means for FUEL
We care deeply about this district and our community. We want to attract and retain exceptional people. We want to keep LBUSD a place where students thrive and staff feel valued.
The behavior we saw last night—the dismissiveness, the overreach, and the lack of basic professionalism—stands in contrast to the collaborative spirit we believe is essential for our district’s continued success.
We believe that through our students and staff, we have what we need to move forward, and now is the time to focus on doing just that. This is a district with so much to be proud of. We should be building on the incredible work already happening, celebrating our successes, and embracing every opportunity to grow stronger together.
We are committed to staying engaged. We are committed to showing up. And we are committed to holding this board accountable. Now more than ever, FUEL stands with our educators, our students, and all those in this community who believe we deserve better and that we can do better, together.
Our Ask - Here’s how you can support FUEL today:
Share our website and newsletter with 5 friends
Make a donation to help to receive a Yard Sign
Share our story on social media or in conversations with neighbors
We know we need to grow, and we need to reach more members throughout our community who care about our students, schools, and the Greater Laguna Beach community.
Join us at www.fuellaguna.org
With resolve,
The FUEL Board
LBUSD Superintendent search
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Superintendent based in California, who is committed to long-term leadership and fostering a positive and sustainable educational environment for students, parents, and the broader community. This individual should have a proven track record of success in navigating challenges related to capital improvement projects, community engagement, and holistic student development.
Key Qualifications:
Long-Term Commitment: At a point in their career where they are seeking to stay and grow within a community for the long term.
Prior Experience with Basic Aid Funding: Familiarity with the intricacies of Basic Aid funding and its application in a California school district.
Community Engagement: Experience working with highly engaged parents and the broader community to foster collaboration, transparency, and mutual support.
Skilled Communicator: Proven ability to effectively and openly communicate with parents, students, staff, and stakeholders, while prioritizing two-way communication and ensuring inclusivity.
Whole Student Focus: A deep commitment to supporting the development of students beyond academic performance, including physical, emotional, and social well-being, through programs such as Nutrition, Social-Emotional Wellness, the Arts, and Athletics.
Social Emotional Wellness: Demonstrated support and leadership in well-funded, impactful Social-Emotional Wellness programs at both the primary and secondary levels.
Environmental & Sustainability Initiatives: A proven track record in addressing and advancing environmental and sustainability issues within educational settings. (add for ESL & SpEd)
Supportive of Staff
Regular Feedback and Recognition: Providing regular, constructive feedback, and celebrating accomplishments, recognizing their hard work and offering guidance on how to improve.
Providing Learning Opportunities: Providing staff access to training programs, workshops, online courses, and conferences that allow them to enhance their skills, helping them feel valued and giving them the tools to be excellent educators.
Creating a Supportive Work Environment: A positive and collaborative work culture encouraging empathy, initiative, sharing of ideas, and striving for excellence.
Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement: Cultivates a culture where learning, adapting, and refining skills are celebrated and making it clear that growth is a lifelong endeavor.
Innovative Programming: A creative and solution-oriented mindset in providing innovative course offerings, despite a declining student population. Experience in bringing unique, college-level opportunities and promoting awareness of life balance programs, such as Challenge Success.
Restorative Justice: Knowledge and support of Restorative Justice practices as a means of fostering positive disciplinary discussions and supporting students' growth.
Cross-Industry Knowledge: Experience and knowledge of tools and solutions (software, project management, etc.) beyond the academic sector, and a demonstrated ability to adapt them to educational settings.
Core Responsibilities:
Oversee the daily operations of the district, ensuring smooth and efficient functioning.
Foster strong relationships with parents, students, and community members to build a collaborative and supportive environment.
Lead initiatives that focus on the whole child, ensuring the provision of academic, social-emotional, and extracurricular support.
Manage district funding and resources effectively, including experience with Basic Aid funding to ensure the district's financial stability.
Drive sustainability efforts across the district, with a focus on environmental responsibility and community involvement.
Promote a culture of innovation, introducing new programs and opportunities that engage students and address the challenges of a changing educational landscape.
Preferred Skills:
Strong leadership abilities with a focus on inclusivity, equity, and community involvement.
Ability to develop strategic initiatives that address both academic and non-academic student needs.
Skilled in using data-driven approaches and technology to improve educational practices and operations.
LTE - Listen to those who show up
When I was single and living in Chicago, I had no children, no school-aged nieces or nephews, and zero experience with school board politics. But when elections rolled around, I knew exactly where to turn: my neighbors. Not just any neighbors—those with kids, backpacks bigger than they were, racing out the door to school. Why? Because they were in it. They had skin in the game.
Today, my wife and I live in Laguna Beach, and our kids have gone through three local schools—our youngest is now a junior at LBHS, and our oldest is a sophomore at UMD. Like so many families here, we’ve been all in from the beginning. From the early days at Top of the World, we’ve contributed not just through our property taxes but also through years of volunteer hours, significant financial support via donations, and service in programs like PTAs, enrichment initiatives and boosters. Some of us have even held leadership positions in various school organizations, including the largest nonprofit fundraising organization for our public schools.
Many of these committed residents, now part of Families Unified for Education in Laguna (FUEL), a transparent 501(c)(4), have spent years giving their time, resources, and passion to support not just their own children but all students in the district.
That’s why it’s confusing when a few individuals with no meaningful history of involvement in our schools suddenly position themselves as the go-to voices for school board endorsements and policy. In this case, a few neighbors near the high school are upset about capital improvements that might affect their street. I get it—no one loves construction. However, proximity to a school doesn’t make someone an expert in education or a champion for students. What does? Consistent, long-term involvement. Rolling up sleeves to volunteer. Raising money not for recognition but for student enrichment. Being in the trenches with teachers, staff and fellow parents. Listening to students. Listening to each other.
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.
Jeff Roedersheimer, Laguna Beach resident, father, public school supporter and FUEL board member
LTE - School rankings can be misleading
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.
(Sorry, more math-y-ness)
Post-2019, U.S. News added equity-focused metrics that focus not on absolute performance, but relative performance and equity gaps, favoring schools with more diverse demographics than ours. These equity metrics now comprise 30% of ranking inputs. LBHS, with 12.4% economically disadvantaged students (vs. California’s ~60%), struggles to exceed the exceptional performance expected given our demographics, unlike schools surpassing lower benchmarks. Demographic conditions have nothing to do with mismanagement.
The emergent charter and magnet schools, like Oxford Academy (#4 in 2024), use selective admissions to attract the brightest kids. These schools dominate the top 50. LBHS, a comprehensive school, can’t match this – a statewide issue.
California’s 2017-18 shift to reporting CAASPP tests via the Dashboard also can be misleading. The metrics measure students scoring above a state-defined benchmark: LBHS’ 51% math and 71% reading proficiency scores place us above the 90th percentile and beat state average proficiency scores of 33% and 47% by a wide margin. These scores have also been stable since state metrics were introduced.
All of Orange County’s comprehensive schools reflect this: Los Alamitos High fell from 24th to 124th (100 positions) and Newport Harbor fell from 35th to 167th (132 positions). Corona del Mar High School dropped from 12th to 199th (187 positions), worse than LBHS’ 173, despite similar demographics (11.9% disadvantaged), undercutting claims of unique failure.
Before last December, I had little school involvement beyond trusting my kids were well-served by teachers and staff. I had no opinion of, nor had given any thought to the superintendent or board. After the chaotic December board meeting, I looked into my assumption that our schools were great and I did my own research. I found our schools were indeed very strong, but – as always – with room to get better.
When magazines change their ranking schemes and Orange County schools in well-off communities drop accordingly, do we blame the former superintendent and board or join with parents, teachers and staff to defend our schools?
Newth Morris (father of three)
Board Member, FUEL
Laguna Beach
LTE - The fallacy of the 79%
Recently certain board members have said we need to focus on “the 79% of the population of Laguna Beach that doesn’t have kids in the school district.” Let’s double-click on this.
Strap in – we’re getting math-y.
The 79% number was taken from the district’s 2023 Annual Report which says the district serves 21.8% of the households in the city. Leaving aside the rounding error, the inference the board member makes is two-fold. First, that 79% of the population are not served by the school district. Second, that these 79% are funding the schools.
The first the “get off my lawn” argument – i.e., there are vanishingly few kids in town who are disrupting the serenity of the other residents. This is primarily what the anti-pool crowd is concerned about – lights and construction noise.
Here, the board is sloppily conflating households with population; 21% of the households have kids, but households with families have more than one person. In fact, closer to 40% of the population are adults and children living together.
The second argument is that these serene, childless residents are subsiding the schooling of those few kids.
Schools are funded from property tax. Laguna Beach’s median tax rate of 1.12% is actually below the county and state rates. On average, a home owned since 1980 will pay about 10% of the same house purchased in the last five years.
The city generates around $200m in property tax per year. By state mandate, about 25% goes to the city and about 25% goes to the schools; an additional 20% goes to support underfunded schools. So, the district gets $50m; the city gets $50m.
More than 20% of our housing stock are second homes that pay taxes but don’t use services. These taxes subsidize residents in every aspect of the city – from the school district to Susi Q.
Additionally, 50% of the housing stock in Laguna Beach has turned over in the last 20 years. The vast majority of these sales were to young families or to second homeowners who pay higher tax rates.
There is one more very important point: LBUSD is bigger than the city – it includes Emerald Bay, Irvine Cove, Crystal Cove and parts of Aliso Viejo. This is a large, affluent area with literally billions of dollars of property value paying taxes netting more than $20m for our district.
We have a large tax base supporting a relatively small population of residents of all kinds. Citizens should embrace the school district’s efforts to modernize facilities as it allows the city to focus on other priorities.
In sum, “the 79%” are not actually 79% and they are not subsidizing kids.
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)
Board Member, FUEL
Laguna Beach
LTE - There’s a new special Interest Group in Town
Some in our community dismiss us as a handful of disgruntled parents, a so-called “special interest group” with an ax to grind against the new school board majority. Fine. Consider us a special interest group—one singularly focused on the best interests of our children.
We are a powerful force of 300 and growing—parents, caregivers, grandparents, doctors, lawyers, business owners, homemakers and neighbors who refuse to stand idly by while school board dysfunction undermines our children’s futures. We are organizing with a strength and unity our community has never witnessed—mobilized, informed, and relentless in our demand for competent leadership, a school board that puts students above politics, and a staff empowered to deliver nothing less than exceptional education. We are FUEL—Families United for Education in Laguna, a 501(c)(4) non-profit advocacy group—and we are just getting started. The change we seek is inevitable.
While we were disappointed to lose a strong leader for the district, we embrace change and know that brighter days lie ahead. This transition presents an opportunity to push our district even further with new, innovative leadership —one that will build on past successes and drive us toward an even stronger future. We recognize that staying the best unified school district in the county—and among the best in the state—requires commitment, vision and investment. That means prioritizing not just academic excellence and continuing to invest in social-emotional wellness. It also means investing in facilities that support world-class education and the student-athletes and artists who represent our schools with pride.
For the past two months, we have done what the board majority should have: researching, engaging stakeholders, and identifying best practices to strengthen our schools. We are armed with facts, and we are prepared to hold leadership accountable.
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.
Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal, President, FUEL Laguna Beach
FUEL LTE - Dear Potential Superintendent
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
LTE - Howard Hills: Be silent money, not a woobie-hugger
We all gravitate toward what we know. As a licensed attorney, I regularly turn to rules and structure—they’re my comfort zone. I understand why someone with a law degree, like school boardmember Hills, might lean on legal frameworks. But here’s the thing about laws: they’re always playing catch-up.
Laws, including school board policies, serve as scaffolding—a starting point, not the endgame. Policies reflect education code, government code and attorney general opinions. They’re meant to set parameters, not dictate the roll-up-your-sleeves, in-the-trenches work staff and educators do daily. School boards review policies periodically to ensure compliance, but real governance comes from empowering experts, not micromanaging the rulebook.
At last Thursday’s meeting, Mr. Hills waxed poetic about a sweeping policy review under the guise of “good governance.” Yet, in the same breath, he publicly disparaged award-winning staff—directly contradicting the principles of collaboration and respect that underpin effective leadership and actual good governance.
Clinging to policies for a lawyer is understandable—it’s safe, like hugging a woobie. But Mr. Hills is missing the point. Governance isn’t about obsessing over the scaffolding; it’s about enabling the creative and functional work of experts to thrive within those boundaries.
As someone who works with startups, I see this dynamic every day. Success comes when we give experts a framework (the law), resources (financing), and freedom to iterate and innovate. That’s how unicorns are born.
In venture capital, we categorize investors as Smart Money, Dumb Money and Silent Money. Smart Money contributes expertise and connections to drive success. Dumb Money disrupts with bad advice and inefficiency. Silent Money—the second-best kind—steps back, periodically checks progress, asks the right questions, and says, “What do you need from me to succeed?”
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.
Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal, Laguna Beach
Understand The CEQA process for lbusd pool reconstruction project
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.
What is the CEQA Process for This Project?
1. Initial Study
The district conducted an environmental review to analyze potential impacts related to traffic, air quality, noise, water use, and other factors. If significant environmental effects could not be mitigated, an EIR would have been required; however, because all issues were deemed manageable through mitigation, an MND was prepared instead.
2. Public Review and Written Comment Period (Now Closed)
The district made the MND available for public review for the legally required 20–30 days. During this time, agencies and the public had the opportunity to submit written comments.
3. Public Hearing for MND Adoption (Upcoming)
The LBUSD Board of Education will hold a public hearing to discuss the MND, mitigation measures, and any remaining concerns. Members of the public may provide oral comments at the hearing, but the formal written comment period has closed. The board will then decide whether to adopt the MND or request further modifications.
Who Makes the Decisions in This Process?
Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) Board of Education – As the lead agency, the school district is responsible for reviewing the MND and determining if it adequately addresses environmental impacts. The board will vote on whether to adopt the MND and allow the project to move forward.
What Can the Public Accomplish at the Hearing?
Although the written comment period is closed, community members may still attend the hearing and provide oral comments regarding the project. However, at this stage, the district’s decision will be based on whether:
The MND adequately mitigates potential impacts and meets CEQA requirements.
There is a reasonable basis to modify mitigation measures before adoption.
The project can proceed without further environmental review.
Any new concerns raised at the hearing that were not previously addressed in the MND could influence the mitigation measures if the board finds them valid. However, changes at this stage are generally minor adjustments, not broad project redesigns.
Next Steps After the Hearing
1. If the board adopts the MND, the district will file a Notice of Determination (NOD), and the project will move forward to the next phase.
2. If the board decides that additional modifications are needed, they may require further revisions before adopting the MND.
3. If new substantial environmental concerns arise, the district would have to determine whether more environmental review is necessary.
The LBHS pool reconstruction project has undergone extensive environmental review, and the district has worked to ensure that potential concerns are addressed through mitigation measures. The public hearing is the final step before the board makes a decision on whether to adopt the MND and allow the project to move forward.