In closed session, the board appointed an interim superintendent and voted 3 to 2 to name Don Austin the next superintendent, effective July 1. No public notice. No community input. No opportunity for families, staff, or residents to weigh in.

In a 3 to 2 vote, the board majority approved a mutual separation agreement ending Dr. Jason Glass's tenure less than a year into the role, the third superintendent lost in eighteen months. Our hearts are with Dr. Glass and his family tonight.

This is a documented pattern of decisions made behind closed doors, with no report to the public and no accountability. An Employee Discipline item has appeared in closed session five times without explanation.

Last Thursday, over 400 people marched in solidarity for LBUSD staff and students. Hours later, the board met. No report out of closed session. No acknowledgment of the staff listening report. And before the meeting, a Substack publication posted an AI-generated image of a FUEL President Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal holding a bloody ax. Here is what our community needs to know and how you can help.

Our recap of the April 9 LBUSD board meeting is live. This meeting included a fourth consecutive closed session with an Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release item and no report out, continued discussion of the district communications plan, a staffing update, and encouraging community bond survey results. Read the full recap and stay informed.

FUEL President Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal addresses the board majority's pattern of framing decisions around taxpayer contributions. The way we honor taxpayers is not by repeatedly invoking how much money they contribute. The way we honor them is by delivering what they are actually paying for — an exceptional public education system.

The numbers do not lie. FUEL breaks down the financial figures at the center of recent community frustration and explains what they actually mean for LBUSD students and families.

In January 2026, FUEL ran its first public advertisement in the Laguna Beach Independent and Stu News Laguna. The ad introduced FUEL to the broader community, explained why parents organized after the December 2024 school board meeting, and outlined what a 501(c)(4) structure allows FUEL to do on behalf of students and families. We are sharing it here as part of our permanent record.