LBUSD Board Meeting Recap: March 26 + April 9 Preview | FUEL Laguna
This is FUEL's recap of the March 26 LBUSD school board meeting and a preview of tonight's April 9 meeting. FUEL attends every Laguna Beach Unified School District board meeting and publishes detailed recaps to keep the Laguna Beach community informed.
Dear FUEL Community,
Thank you for continuing to show up, stay informed, and share our work with your neighbors. Every board meeting matters, and so does every person who takes the time to read these recaps, meeting agenda emails, and support our work.
Scroll down for an important recap on the March 26 LBUSD Board Meeting. Watch the full meeting HERE. But first, here is what is on deck at tonight’s LBUSD Board Meeting:
TONIGHT - Thursday, April 9 at Thurston Middle School | Open Session 6:00 p.m. | Agenda | Link to Public Comment | Link to Watch. Please show up, watch live, or submit public comments.
Closed Session - Item 3C - Once again, the board will convene in closed session with an Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release item on the agenda under Government Code § 54957. This will be the third consecutive meeting with this item along with the February 26 Superintendent Evaluation. As we have noted before, the law requires that actions taken in closed session be reported out to the public. We will be watching closely and we continue to expect transparency. Our community deserves to know what is being decided behind closed doors.
Presentation by Tim McLarney, True North, and Discussion of Community Bond Survey Results - Item 6A - The community has spoken and the feedback is positive. Survey results show that Laguna Beach residents are ready to support a bond measure that will benefit LBUSD students for generations to come. This is exactly the kind of civic investment our schools need, and our neighbors are telling us they are willing to make it. The board should feel the weight of that trust and respond accordingly by moving forward and putting this measure on the ballot. Let Laguna Beach residents and stakeholders use their voice and their vote.
District Communications Plan Continued - Item 7A - The communications plan returns for continued board discussion. As we note below, this work is strong and the team behind it deserves credit.
Staffing and Class Sizes Update - Item 8A - LBUSD is an elite school district, and part of what makes it exceptional is the quality and dedication of our staff and the learning environments they create every day for students with a wide range of needs. Small class sizes are valued. They are part of what makes this district so special. We trust our educators, we value their expertise, and we ask the board to protect the conditions that allow them to do their best work for every single student.
Governance Committee Review - Item 9A - The Ad Hoc Governance Committee was established with a clear and limited scope: review bylaws and policies for alignment with best practices. It was never meant to direct staff, negotiate language, or operate outside those boundaries. Tonight the board will revisit the committee's charge and membership, and that conversation is worth watching closely. Our concern is straightforward. A governance committee only works when the full board is functioning as one. That has not been the case. We will be paying attention to whether tonight's discussion moves this body toward greater cohesion and shared purpose, or further from it.
A Note at the Outset
The March 26 meeting started with President Morgan issuing a correction to a statement she made at the March 12 meeting. She had incorrectly indicated the board could move to closed session to restore order. She clarified the correct procedure is to clear the room if necessary, per Board Policy 9323. She then outlined behavioral expectations for attendees.
We also note that district legal counsel Jonathan Pearl (or another designee) is now present at every regular board meeting. We are noting this as a procedural change to how our meetings are being conducted.
Restorative Practices and the Healthy Kids Survey
Dr. Keller led this presentation, supported by Dr. Glass, walking the board through the district's approach to restorative practices and student wellbeing. He previously presented a similar presentation in the Fall. The data tells a strong story. LBUSD has achieved some of its lowest suspension rates on record. The framework in place ensures that every disciplinary situation is handled with a structured process designed to help students learn, repair relationships, and stay connected to school.
The Healthy Kids Survey data offered additional insight into how students across the district are feeling about their school experience. This is the kind of student-centered, evidence-based work that reflects well on our principals, teachers, and site staff. The work being done on our school campuses every single day is exceptional, and this presentation made that visible.
The board discussion was lengthy and covered ground that was already presented at the October board meeting.
FUEL's View: Dr. Keller and Dr. Glass presented thorough, well-supported work. The systems in place to support our students are working. We encourage the board to trust that data and move forward.
El Morro Principal Report: Dr. Julie Hatchel
Dr. Hatchel shared El Morro's mid-year progress and the results were remarkable. Students showed 26% growth in both English language arts and math on iReady assessments, nearly double what is considered strong growth. The school's student satisfaction score sits at 50, ten points above the excellent threshold. Over 60% of students are participating in the after-school program run through SchoolPower. El Morro is also in the running for a Gold Star School designation from the National Association of Elementary School Principals, with an announcement expected in May.
FUEL's View: The work happening at El Morro is a testament to what dedicated, student-centered leadership looks like. We celebrate Dr. Hatchel and her entire team.
District Communications Plan
Communications Manager Anakaren delivered a thorough presentation on the district communications plan, reflecting significant staff work to make information accessible across all platforms and community needs. It is clear this plan is comprehensive and constantly adjusting to the needs of students, their families, and the community. Discussion was tabled and will continue at the April 9 meeting.
FUEL's View: We commend Anakaren and the communications team for the quality of this work. The families of students currently enrolled in LBUSD are the district's most important audience. We ask that ensuring they have timely, relevant information about their children and the work happening in our schools remains the priority.
Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
After four months of advocacy by FUEL and community members, President Morgan has placed 20 minutes of Public Comment on Non-Agenda items at the start of the past two meetings and has ensured that student voices are prioritized during that time. Speakers not heard in the first 20 minutes will have another opportunity at the end of the meeting. This is progress. Public comment is one of the most important ways community members can speak directly to their elected representatives. It needs to be protected, valued, and made as accessible as possible.
Closed Session
Once again, there was no report out of closed session, which included for the third meeting in a row, an item on Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release - Government Code § 54957. As we noted in our last newsletter, our concern remains. Not only is it a legal requirement for actions taken in closed session to be reported out to the community but our community deserves to know what is being discussed and decided in those portions of our board meetings. We will keep asking for that transparency.
LBUSD Celebration of the Arts
All four school sites will be represented in the annual Celebration of the Arts at Laguna Beach High School on April 14, 2026 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. We hope to see you there. LBUSD Celebration of the Arts.
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