March 12 Board Meeting Recap: FUEL's Perspective and What You Need to Know
Dear FUEL Community,
Thank you for being here. The conversations happening across our community, at school pickup, in neighborhoods, and in packed board meeting rooms, are exactly what this moment calls for. We are grateful for every one of you who is showing up and staying informed.
The next LBUSD Regular Board Meeting is Thursday, March 26. Open session begins at 6:00 p.m. at Thurston Middle School Library, 2100 Park Avenue.
March 12 Regular Board Meeting: Recap
Student Public Comment
Board President Morgan, with the support of Members Kelly, Malczewski, and Perry, made a single-meeting motion to allow students to comment on non-agenda items at the start of open session. Students from Laguna Beach High School filled the room and spoke clearly, with conviction, and from the heart. They addressed the graduation venue decision, the student survey that gave them a voice, accessibility concerns for families, and what it means to feel genuinely heard by the people elected to serve them. Several noted that two out of three community data points support keeping graduation at Guyer Field. One student pointed out that a petition gathered within the school community topped 1,000 signatures in less than two weeks.
What stayed with us was not just what they said but how they carried themselves. These students were calm, informed, and deeply thoughtful. Many of them will be voting in November. They are paying attention. President Morgan and Dr. Glass have committed to planning a meaningful experience for the Class of 2026 at the Irvine Bowl. The venue decision will not return to the board agenda.
FUEL's View: We are proud of every student who stood at that microphone and those who supported their peers. They represent the very best of what this school district produces. They continue to show up, speak up, and lead. We commend them.
Board Member Reports: Logan Marshall and Ivy Dabbs
During board member reports, both student representatives addressed accusations by President Morgan that their views are not their own and that they are coached by FUEL on what to say.
FUEL's View: FUEL does not coach, direct, or coordinate with Logan or Ivy in any way. Their voices are entirely their own. We commend them without reservation. President Morgan bears responsibility for the actions taken and the environment created as a leader. The inability to take accountability and foster trust with student leadership is deeply disheartening.
Please see Ivy and Logan's full comments at the board meeting here.
Thurston Named a California Distinguished School
Thurston Middle School was recognized as a 2026 California Distinguished School for its work closing achievement gaps for underserved students. Principal Vidal and the entire Thurston team earned this recognition through years of consistent, student-centered work.
FUEL's View: Congratulations to the Thurston community. This is exactly what a well-supported school, dedicated staff, and a strong leader can achieve. We celebrate this wholeheartedly.
Board Member Reports: Member Malczewski on the District Communication Plan
Member Malczewski raised a significant concern about a district communication plan developed under the direction of Board President Morgan. As described, the plan heavily emphasizes board visibility, including board member profiles, rapid amplification of board decisions, and board-focused publications. Member Malczewski was direct: district communications exist to serve students, families, and the educational mission, not to elevate the public profile of the board. She also noted that no individual board member has the authority to develop district strategy independently.
The revised district communications plan was not placed on any board agenda and the community had no prior notice of its contents. There have been no official changes to board policy around communications, and there is very little clarity on why this plan is being driven by the board president rather than through the superintendent and established governance process.
FUEL's View: We share these concerns. Board members are bound by bylaws, and the superintendent manages district operations including communications strategy. We are researching what communication policies look like in comparable districts and will share what we find. Our community deserves to know how public resources and staff time are being directed.
Closed Session
The board reported action taken in closed session to release temporary certificated employees effective at the end of the 2025-26 school year. This is a standard annual action. A unanimous 5-0 vote was reported.
FUEL's View: This is routine. We note it here for completeness and transparency.
Labor Negotiations
Both LaBUFA and CSEA reported positively on the first negotiating session with the district. LaBUFA noted that newer team members walked away pleasantly surprised, describing thoughtful collaboration and genuine problem solving. CSEA echoed the constructive tone. That positive report made what came later in the evening even more difficult to hear.
During public comment, LaBUFA Union President Scott Wittkop spoke vulnerably and tearfully about how the current board dysfunction, for the first time in all his years at the district, is driving him to look for a new job. Watch his remarks here.
FUEL's View: The contrast between a productive first negotiating session and a union president in tears at the same meeting tells the full story of where our district stands right now. Good faith at the table matters. So does what happens everywhere else. Our teachers and staff are not abstract stakeholders. They are the people who show up every single day for our children, and they are telling us they are struggling. There is a real human cost to all of this. We continue to stand with our staff.
Financial Health Report
The board approved the 2025-26 Second Interim Financial Report with a positive certification. The district is expected to meet its financial obligations for this year and the next two. The district CBO was transparent about the road ahead: the pool modernization project will draw down reserves over the next 18 months, and the recommendation is to hold on adding new programs until the district returns to surplus. The $11 million interfund transfer to fund the pool project passed 5-0.
FUEL's View: The district is in a sound financial position and we are glad the full picture was communicated clearly. Fiscal transparency is good governance, and district staff continues to work diligently to keep LBUSD on a path of success and fiscal responsibility.
The Words We Want to Leave You With
FUEL President Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal set an important and needed tone during public comment. She reminded the room that public schools are funded through property taxes because education is a core public good, something communities invest in together so all children have access to learning and opportunity. She said the way to honor that investment is not by invoking how much money the community contributes. The way to honor it is by delivering what people are actually paying for: an exceptional public education system. And she said this clearly: our students are not beneficiaries of charity from adults in this town. They are the reason the system exists.
That is the frame through which FUEL looks at every board decision. Is this serving the students? Is this supporting the people who show up every day to educate them?
Please see Shaheen's full public comment here.
A Note on Public Comment
Despite hundreds of written and in-person requests, and Member Kelly's repeated motions to move public comment on non-agenda items to the beginning of meetings, it remains at the end. Community members, parents, teachers, and students continue to wait until late in the evening simply to speak to their elected officials. We will keep asking for this to change.
Our Community Is Growing
At the March 12 meeting, we were moved to see Laguna Beach parents speaking powerfully about what they are witnessing and stepping forward to join our community. That is what FUEL is built on. If you have been watching from the sidelines and feel ready to connect, we would love to hear from you. Whether you want to attend a meeting, get more involved, or simply stay informed, there is a place for you here. We are stronger together, and our shared goal is simple: prioritize our students and their experience in Laguna Beach schools.
Reach out at Board@FUELLaguna.org or visit FUELLaguna.org to learn more.
How to Support FUEL:
Attend a School Board Meeting in person: Thurston Middle School Library, 2100 Park Avenue. Open session at 6:00 p.m.
Invite a friend into the FUEL tent: Grab a coffee or take a walk with a neighbor and tell them about the school board and FUEL's work. Remind them to get ready for November.
FUEL, Families Unified for Education in Laguna, was formed by Laguna Beach parents who witnessed conduct at the December 2024 board meeting that raised serious concerns about governance, tone, and accountability. We came together to provide an organized, informed, and fact-based parent voice in our district.
Our mission is to champion student success and elevate our school district to the highest standard of excellence. We track board actions, explain decisions clearly, and share accurate information so our community understands what is happening in our schools. We are parents, grandparents, educators, neighbors, and residents. We welcome conversation and community engagement.
FUEL | Families Unified for Education in Laguna | 501(c)(4) community advocacy | FUELLaguna.org
