SchoolPower and FUEL are not the same

PUBLISHED BY STU NEWS LAGUNA AND LAGUNA BEACH INDEPENDENT ON MARCH 20, 2026

SchoolPower has supported Laguna Beach public schools for 45 years. It was created at a time when the district faced significant financial need and, over decades, has evolved to meet the changing needs of LBUSD. Today the organization raises roughly $1 million each year to support programs and services that benefit children across the district.

At its core, SchoolPower exists for one reason – students.

The organization funds initiatives that help as many children as possible thrive. That includes Educator Grants for teachers, counselors, and administrators who want to bring new ideas to their classrooms and programs. It helps fund science camps so middle school families face less financial burden, and an Athletics Fund that supports middle and high school athletes so students can learn leadership, resilience and teamwork through sports.

SchoolPower also operates the district’s elementary after-school enrichment program (SPASE), serving nearly three-quarters of elementary students, and provides scholarships so families who need support can access these opportunities. Through the Family Resource Center, it also helps fund direct assistance for families in need. In short, it helps provide the wraparound support that many school districts simply cannot fund on their own.

I have served as a SchoolPower trustee for seven years and was president in 2023-2024, a role I’m incredibly proud to have held.

What many people do not understand is that SchoolPower does not direct the school district in any way. It has no authority over curriculum, staffing, academic decisions, or school-site operations. None. SchoolPower exists solely to support students and programs.

Trustees are parent volunteers who donate significant time and financial support because they believe in that mission. They spend countless hours in committee meetings, planning community events and finding new ways to grow programs that benefit our students.

Recently, a narrative has emerged suggesting that SchoolPower and FUEL are somehow connected. That is simply not true.

FUEL formed in response to concerns many parents had after the new school board majority took office at the end of 2024. It is a community advocacy effort focused on governance and the future direction of the district.

Is it surprising that some of the same parents involved in SchoolPower are also active in FUEL? Of course not. Laguna Beach is a small community. The parents who dedicate time and energy to supporting our schools tend to be the same parents who step forward when they believe the district needs engagement or advocacy.

But the two organizations are entirely separate. SchoolPower is a 501(c)(3), it does not engage in governance matters and simply receives periodic updates from school board representatives.

When hearing claims about organizations that support our schools, it is worth considering the source and whether they have any real experience or involvement with the organizations they are speaking about.

Parents who volunteer their time and resources to support public education are a strength of our community.

SchoolPower has been an extraordinary asset to Laguna Beach for nearly half a century. It reflects the best of what a community can do for its schools, and it remains something many of us are deeply proud to support.

Iva Pawling, SchoolPower Trustee and FUEL Board Member

Laguna Beach