April 9 LBUSD Board Meeting Recap
Dear FUEL Community,
Our schools belong to our students, our staff, and this community. Last night's board meeting made us more certain of that than ever, and more committed to making sure everyone in Laguna Beach understands what is at stake. Watch the full meeting HERE.
Upcoming
Next LBUSD Board Meeting - Governance Session - Thursday, April 16 at Thurston Middle School | Closed Session 4:00 p.m. | Open Session 6:00 p.m.
FUEL at the Laguna Beach Farmers Market | Saturday April 18 | 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Come say hello, grab some treats, and bring a neighbor! Volunteer to join the FUEL team and share our message: LINK
One District, One Community Rally - Thursday, April 16 | 4:00 p.m. LBUSD District Lot | March to Main Beach - Come stand in solidarity with our LBUSD staff and community. Please see information and flyer below.
What Is Happening in Consecutive 2-Hour Closed Sessions
We have raised this before. We are raising it again, because the pattern has continued in four consecutive meetings and last night something new happened that the public record now reflects.
Here is the documented sequence:
February 26, 2026 — Board Governance Meeting: An unscheduled performance evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Jason Glass appeared on the closed session agenda under Government Code 54957. When the board returned to open session, Board President Morgan stated: "We have no report out of closed session." No action was reported. No information was disclosed.
March 12, 2026 — Regular Board Meeting: An Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release item appeared on the closed session agenda. The only report out of closed session: took action to release temporary certificated employees.
March 26, 2026 — Regular Board Meeting: Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release appeared again. No report out.
April 9, 2026 — Regular Board Meeting: Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release appeared for a third consecutive regular meeting. No report out.
During public comment on non-agenda items, multiple community members raised concern about the recurring Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release item appearing in closed session with no report out and no explanation. Public comment is how our community speaks directly to its elected representatives, and last night they used it. Board Member Dr. Kelly then asked Board President Morgan directly to explain why she wanted the item on every agenda. President Morgan stated she thought it had always been on there. Board Member Dr. Malczewski corrected the record, confirming the item was placed on the agenda and that a discussion had taken place. For the fourth consecutive time, our community still does not know what is being discussed or decided behind closed doors.
FUEL's View: Closed session exists for specific legal purposes. It is a protection for sensitive information, not a tool to avoid transparent governance. The California Brown Act requires that any action taken in closed session be reported out to the public. The pattern we are documenting, a recurring employee discipline item with no report out, an unscheduled superintendent evaluation outside the established process, and a board member making an inaccurate statement from the dais that required correction by a colleague, raises serious concerns that warrant public scrutiny.
District Communications Plan
This item came back to the board last night as a continuation of a discussion that has been building since January, when Board President Morgan, acting alone without full board authority, directed the district communications office toward immediate implementation of a new approach centered on board visibility rather than community service. That action raised legitimate concerns about the appropriate role of a board president in district operations.
Last night offered a clear contrast. Director of Communications and Engagement Anakaren presented a plan that is comprehensive, multi-channel, and genuinely focused on reaching and hearing from all stakeholders. She is working with Dr. Glass on an update to the communications plan, which is completely normal given that our superintendent arrived in July and is now appropriately leading that work. This is how it should function.
What we observed from the board majority was something different. Board President Morgan directed questions at staff from the dais, was openly critical of the communications team in a public setting, and inserted herself into operational decisions that belong to the superintendent.
Board Member Hills offered his own framing of what the district is and who it serves. His words are worth reading directly:
"The communications office is an instrumentality of the board. And if you were to try to define what the district is, the district is the board." We encourage you to watch the full exchange at 02:43:00.
FUEL's View: We see it differently. The district exists for its students. The communications office exists to serve families and the community. The superintendent is the CEO of this organization and its operations are his to lead. A board member's role is governance and policy, not operational control of staff. When a board member states from the dais that the “district is the board”, that is a fundamental misunderstanding about public education, what the role of the school board is in that system, and whom public education serves. We will continue to stand behind our excellence in our staff and their commitments to keeping students at the center of their work.
Community Bond Survey: Good News Worth Celebrating
The community has spoken and the data is encouraging. A March 2026 survey of likely Laguna Beach voters showed 59% initial support for an $83 million existing bond extension measure, already above the 55% threshold required for passage. When voters learned the measure would extend rather than increase the existing tax rate, support jumped to 67%. Final support after exposure to both positive and opposition arguments held at 64%.
Voters identified modern labs and career technical facilities, infrastructure repairs, updated technology, and hazardous materials removal as their top priorities. Our schools need these investments and our community is ready to make them.
FUEL's View: We are grateful to True North for a comprehensive and encouraging presentation. Our community is ready to approve a once in a generation opportunity to fund the success of the next 20 years of students coming through our amazing schools. We encourage the board to allow the democratic process to unfold and move forward and put this measure on the November 2026 ballot. Let the voters decide!
Staffing Update
District staff presented a detailed report on average class sizes across LBUSD and comparable districts. The data confirmed what our community already knows and values: our class sizes are small, our staffing is strong, and that directly translates into better student outcomes every single day. We are encouraged that all board members expressed support for maintaining current staffing levels and keeping class sizes small.
What gave us pause was how the discussion unfolded. Board President Morgan asked questions from the dais about personnel decisions, including which staff members might be considering retirement. These are not questions that belong at a board meeting. They create uncertainty and concern among the very people we are counting on to show up for our kids every day.
FUEL's View: We are glad the board is aligned on the value of small class sizes. We trust our educators and our district leadership to manage staffing well. That work does not need to happen from the dais. The public comments during this item were very compelling and worth watching HERE.
One District. One Community. Show Up on April 16!
When the teachers, classified staff, and employees who show up every day for our children feel strongly enough to organize a community march, that is a moment worth showing up for.
LaBUFA and CSEA are leading this rally and they are asking our community to walk with them. This is not a political event. It is a community standing together for its students and its schools.
One District, One Community Rally
Thursday, April 16 | 4:00 p.m. | District Lot, 550 Blumont Street
Join Us
Come say hello, grab some treats, and bring a neighbor! Volunteer to join the FUEL team and share our message: LINK
Follow along on Social Media
Instagram: @FUELLaguna
Facebook: @FUELLaguna
Reach out to board@fuellaguna.org with questions, connections, or to grab a coffee!
Thank you for your support!
See all Latest News HERE | FUEL | Families Unified for Education in Laguna | 501(c)(4) community advocacy | FUELLaguna.org
