LBUSD June Board Meetings Recap: Recognitions, Public Records, and What Comes Next
FUEL COMMUNITY UPDATE | June 2026
Dear FUEL Community,
The 2025 to 2026 school year has come to a close, and the final two board meetings of the year, on June 4 and June 8, gave us a great deal to celebrate alongside decisions that continue to raise important questions. As always, every point below is grounded in the public record.
Celebrating Our Students, Staff, and Schools
The June 3 and June 4 meetings were, first and foremost, a celebration. The board and district recognized an extraordinary range of student achievement across the arts, athletics, academics, and civic life, from work selected for community exhibitions to state and county recognition in theater and music, mathematics competitions, sustainability leadership, and the California State Seal of Civic Engagement. The evening also honored retiring staff and administrators whose careers span decades of service to this community.
To every student who graduated or promoted this year, congratulations. We cannot wait to see what you do in the world, and you have a whole community cheering you on. The talent, character, and commitment on display are a reflection of exceptional students, devoted staff, and a community that invests deeply in its young people.
Facilities Master Plan
At the June 4 meeting, the board received the 2026 Facilities Master Plan Update, a long-range roadmap developed over roughly six months by a committee of community members, district staff, and board representatives, with input from students. The plan identifies facilities needs across all four schools, the district office, and the district maintenance warehouse, with a total estimated cost for all priority projects of approximately $144 to $145 million in current dollars.
The committee identified no tier-one projects, meaning no facilities were found to require emergency action. District staff and the committee credited this to the strong, consistent maintenance our facilities receive. The plan is a living document. It does not commit funding to any single project. It positions the district to pursue state matching funds and other resources over the coming years, and it will be revisited annually.
FUEL appreciates the significant volunteer effort that went into this work and the thoughtful, transparent process the committee followed. This is the kind of open, community-grounded planning that serves our district well.
Dr. Austin's Contract and the Process Behind It
On June 4, the board approved a four-year contract for incoming Superintendent Dr. Don Austin on a 3 to 2 vote, at a $450,000 base salary effective July 1. As confirmed by a Public Records Act request, the contract was not publicly available before the vote. The community was forced to accept a permanent appointment before any contract could be reviewed.
An even more troubling concern is how the decision was made. At the June 4 meeting, Trustee Dr. Joan Malczewski stated on the record that she was not informed Dr. Austin was a candidate, and that the first time she heard his name was when she was presented with a motion to hire him in closed session on May 14, without any prior board discussion of process, negotiations, salary, or a start date. She asked repeatedly who had decided that the district's own search policy, Board Policy 2120, did not apply, and when. Those questions were not answered.
A sitting board member did not know the candidate was under consideration until the moment she was asked to vote. That is not a transparent search. It is a decision made behind closed doors and presented to the community, and the board, as final.
A Pattern the Community Is Pushing to Address
Over the past several weeks, FUEL has been copied on a series of formal items community members have submitted to the district: Public Records Act requests, cure-and-correct demands, and Brown Act objections, all raised through proper legal channels by residents seeking transparency about the superintendent transition. What stands out is not only their volume, but that they appear to have gone largely unaddressed by the board majority.
When residents must file records requests and formal demands simply to understand decisions that have already been made, and those efforts go unanswered, the result is uncertainty and instability. That is not abstract. It is a direct stressor on the staff, students, and families who depend on this district, and it pulls focus from the work that matters most. Our schools deserve governance that meets reasonable questions with openness rather than silence.
Here are the complaints filed, shared with FUEL in chronological order.
Public Records Act Request: Statements of Economic Interests and Related Records – May 18
Initial Response to Letter to cure and correct dated 5/29 - June 3
OCDA Referral Letter to LBUSD Attorney Pearl- Brown Act Allegations 2 - June 17
These filings speak for themselves. Most recently, the Orange County District Attorney's Office responded directly to the concerns raised.
On June 17, 2026, the Orange County District Attorney's Office confirmed in writing that it has received numerous Brown Act complaints concerning the circumstances of Dr. Glass's termination and Dr. Austin's hiring, along with the cure-and-correct demand submitted by community members. The District Attorney's office stated it was not opining on any potential violations at this time, and it encouraged the board to ensure the Brown Act's provisions are followed. It asked the district to respond with its proposed course of action within seven business days.
LCAP and Budget Approval
At the June 8 meeting, the board approved the Local Control and Accountability Plan for the coming year, the document that aligns district goals with spending and services. The discussion was substantial. Board members raised questions about parent and student engagement, about how families understand their children's progress, about social and emotional support programs and their measurable impact, and about civic engagement and school climate.
Several of these discussions touched on how the district communicates with families and how it ensures every student feels safe and supported. These are questions worth continuing to ask. FUEL will keep watching how the goals in the LCAP translate into practice over the coming year.
The Board Majority-Authorized Investigation of First Amendment Rights
At the June 8 meeting, the board reported that, during closed session, it had authorized an outside investigator to examine the rally that preceded the May 14 board meeting. The scope read aloud in open session, under Government Code section 54957(a), was to look into what occurred at the rally, whether safety protocols were followed, and whether the conduct, based on video and witness accounts, violated any board policies or applicable law.
The rally on May 14 was a peaceful and passionate gathering of parents, students, and community members expressing frustration with the board majority's decision to separate from Dr. Glass and to move forward with a new appointment within 48 hours. It was a public expression of civic engagement protected by the First Amendment, attended to by LBPD officers.
Members of the public at the June 8 meeting raised questions about how this matter was handled, including whether an investigation, deploying taxpayer dollars, should have been deliberated and authorized in open session.
Peaceful civic engagement is not something to be investigated. It is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy and an engaged community. FUEL will continue to follow this matter and will report what the public record shows.
Looking Ahead to November
FUEL's work continues into the 2026 election cycle. Our focus remains where it has always been, on transparency, accountability, and strong, stable leadership for our schools with students at the forefront.
Exciting things are happening and we look forward to bringing you along every step of the way. To get involved, visit FUELlaguna.org or reach out to us at Board@FUELlaguna.org.
For over a century, this community has shown up for its children. It has invested in its schools and understood that excellent public education is the foundation everything else is built on. That legacy was built by neighbors investing in neighbors, and it is worth protecting. FUEL will keep showing up, asking the questions that matter, and standing with the students, staff, and stakeholders who make these schools what they are. That is why we are here, and that has not changed. We look forward to the work we continue to do together.
With gratitude,
The FUEL Board
A community waiting for answers
The LBUSD Superintendent Transition: What We Know
Dear FUEL Community,
Since the May 12 and May 14 board meetings, we have heard from hundreds of parents, educators, alumni, and community members. The response has been overwhelming, and it has reinforced what we already knew: this community cares deeply about its schools.
Over the past two weeks, we have spent our time listening, researching, and reviewing what has been shared with us. We are sharing what we have learned because transparency matters, and because this community deserves to understand how we arrived at this moment.
Important Note - Let's show up together this Thursday, June 4. We are asking this board for transparency and proper process, and we have the chance to do exactly that when the meeting turns to board business.
A Pattern That Led to This Moment
What happened on May 12 and May 14 did not come out of nowhere. For 18 months, this board majority has made consequential decisions to consolidate power with minimal public input, or in direct disregard of it. Requests for transparency have been met with silence. Actions that belong in open session have happened in closed session.
What many parents, staff, and community members are reacting to is not one decision. It is the cumulative weight of 18 months of governance that has moved away from transparency and toward unilateral control. This has been the pattern of the board majority.
Three superintendents and a CTO have departed. The board majority granted the board president sole control of agendas. Public comment was pushed to the end of meetings for four months. Legal costs have increased significantly. Staff unions issued a vote of no confidence, and teachers marched publicly for the first time in four decades.
The concern is that, taken together, these actions have eroded trust across a wide cross-section of this community, a loss of trust that came into sharp focus over the course of 48 hours.
Superintendent Instability
On May 12, the board majority voted 3-2 to end Dr. Glass's tenure at a special meeting called with 24 hours notice. Ten months into a four-year contract. In closed session. The separation agreement is now a public record.
Forty-eight hours later, on May 14, the same majority voted 3-2 to appoint a permanent new superintendent, Don Austin, at another special meeting. Also in closed session. An interim superintendent was installed in the same window.
Three superintendent positions were decided on during back-to-back closed-session decisions, with no public search, no posted selection criteria, and no community input. Just under one year earlier, Dr. Glass was hired through a four-month nationwide search that included stakeholder engagement and a documented process consistent with Board Policy 2120. This time, that level of transparency was absent. The community was given no meaningful role in one of the most important decisions a school board can make.
And then this. At 6:02 p.m. on May 14, Board President Morgan sent a fully drafted press release from her district email account with the instruction: "For immediate release." That email is public record and includes direct quotes from both President Morgan and Dr. Austin.
Twenty-seven minutes later, families received a ParentSquare message announcing the new superintendent while many were still arriving to speak during public comment. The timeline speaks for itself, and it is difficult to see how this outcome was not predetermined.
This is how President Morgan and the board majority are governing our district: major decisions emerge suddenly, move quickly, and are approved by the same three-vote majority with little transparency or public involvement. How did President Morgan move with such confidence to think her press release would mirror a closed session deliberation?
A Community In The Dark
This is not about Don Austin. He comes from a long tenure in Palo Alto and has a history in LBUSD schools, and some in Laguna Beach remember his previous service fondly and are genuinely excited to see him return. At the same time, we have heard concerns from members of the Palo Alto community based on their own experiences, and his departure there has been the subject of public reporting. These are not reasons to prejudge anyone. They are exactly the kinds of questions a transparent search would have allowed our community to weigh openly.
Because the board majority bypassed a public search, the community was denied the chance to understand how this decision was made. Were multiple candidates considered? Were qualifications and selection criteria established and documented? Was a formal recruitment process conducted? When did discussions with Dr. Austin begin? How was he identified as the sole candidate?
There is a deeper question the board has never answered: not how Dr. Austin was chosen, but why this transition was necessary at all. No public reason was ever given for ending Dr. Glass's tenure. We do not know what the board was asking of him, what he was or was not willing to do, or what need this sudden change was meant to address, because the reasoning has remained behind closed doors. The community is being asked to accept a wholesale change in leadership without ever understanding what drove it.
That is unfair not only to the community, but also to Dr. Austin. A proper search would have given him the opportunity to earn the confidence of the broader community and begin his tenure with a strong foundation of trust. Instead, the board majority's approach has left unanswered questions where transparency and confidence should have been.
There is also the matter of timing. According to a settlement agreement obtained and reported by Palo Alto Online, Dr. Austin and the Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education reached a mutual separation in February 2026, under which Dr. Austin continues to serve Palo Alto Unified as superintendent emeritus, a transitional advisory role, through June 30. His appointment in Laguna Beach is effective July 1. The community was given no opportunity to understand or ask about this through any public process.
President Morgan has cc’d FUEL on emails stating that Dr. Austin participated in last year's superintendent search but was not selected. If that is the case, what changed? A year later, the district and its needs are different. Rather than conducting a new search, the board majority presented the community with a decision and no explanation of how it was reached.
What Comes Next On June 4
The agenda for Thursday, June 4 shows the board working to formalize what it has already decided.
Before the board returns to closed session to negotiate and confirm the appointment, it has placed an open-session item, titled "Discussion and Applicability of Board Policy 2120." Board Policy 2120 is the district's own superintendent search policy. Discussing whether the policy "applies" is not the same as following it. Placing that discussion on the same agenda where the appointment is finalized, after the decision has already been made and announced, does not substitute for the process the policy requires.
From there, the agenda moves directly to the contracts. The board is asked to approve a contract for the interim superintendent and a contract for Dr. Austin. Neither contract is attached to the agenda for public review. The community is being asked to accept multi-year contracts for the people who will lead this district without being shown the salary, the length, the benefits, or the terms. On the same agenda, a routine technology labor contract and a long-range facilities plan are both posted in full. The two most consequential commitments are not.
Accountability Efforts Underway
Community members have taken independent action. FUEL did not file these. We share them because transparency matters.
A formal cure and correct demand was filed under the Brown Act calling on the board to rescind the Austin appointment and conduct a proper superintendent search. A comprehensive Public Records Act request was filed seeking records about the hiring process, conflict of interest disclosures, the Glass separation, and the original unedited recording of the May 14 meeting. Additional written demands have been submitted by community members citing policy violations and requesting transparency. These items along with other concerns have been shared with us and we believe it is our responsibility to share them with you. The board has not publicly acknowledged or addressed the concerns these filings raise.
A Failure of Governance
Perhaps none of these actions will change the decisions that have already been made. But that is not the point. The point is that a high-performing district like Laguna Beach should not find itself in a position where parents, staff, and community members feel compelled to file legal demands simply to obtain answers, enforce transparency, or insist that established policies and procedures be followed.
Strong boards do not operate at the edge of legal boundaries. They do not disregard their own policies. They do not repeatedly shut out the communities they were elected to serve. The responsibility to change course does not rest with parents, staff, or community members. It rests solely with the board majority.
FUEL will continue to hold them accountable. We will do it with facts, documentation, and the voices of the community they were elected to serve. Thank you to every parent, educator, staff member, alumnus, and community member who has engaged, asked questions, shared information, and helped us do this work. We are grateful to stand alongside you. There is real work ahead to restore transparency and trust in this district, and we intend to do it alongside you.
Board Meeting Thursday June 4
First Closed Session 4:30 p.m.
Pre-Recognition Entertainment 5:30 p.m.
Recognition 6:00 p.m.
First Open Session Follows Recognition
Second Closed Session Follows
Second Open Session Follows
Thurston Middle School Library, 2100 Park Avenue, Laguna Beach
The business portion of the meeting, including the discussion of Board Policy 2120, Facility Master Plan Updates, and the votes on the superintendent contracts, follows the recognitions.
Join Us
Wednesday, June 3 - LBUSD Elementary Recognitions at Thurston Middle School
Thursday, June 4 - LBUSD Secondary Recognitions and Board Meeting at Thurston Middle School
FUEL at the Laguna Beach Farmers Market - Come say hi or sign up to volunteer! Sign Up Here
Follow along on Social Media
Instagram: @FUELLaguna
Facebook: @FUELLaguna
Reach out to info@fuellaguna.org with questions, connections, or to grab a coffee!
Put up a FUEL Yard Sign - Get yours here
FUEL Statement on the Interim Superintendent and Permanent Superintendent
On May 14 the LBUSD Board Majority made two of the most consequential decisions a school board can make entirely behind closed doors. In closed session, the board appointed Manoj Roychowdhury as interim superintendent and voted 3-2 to approve a contract naming Don Austin as the next permanent superintendent of LBUSD, effective July 1. No public notice. No community input. No opportunity for families, staff, or residents to weigh in on the single most important hiring decision a school board makes. FUEL documents what the timeline of a fully prepared press release sent 39 minutes after the closed session ended reveals about how this decision was made. This is not a commentary on Don Austin's qualifications. It is about a board that hides predetermined outcomes behind closed session procedures and calls it governance.
Dear FUEL Community,
FUEL Statement on the Installation of LBUSD Interim Superintendent and Permanent Superintendent
Tonight, the LBUSD Board majority made two of the most consequential decisions a school board can make, and they did it behind closed doors.
In closed session, the board voted to appoint Manoj Roychowdhury as interim superintendent. Then, in a 3-2 vote, they approved a contract naming Don Austin as the next superintendent of LBUSD, effective July 1.
No public notice. No community input. No opportunity for the families, staff, and residents of this district to weigh in on the single most important hiring decision a school board makes.
Here is what makes this worse.
The closed session ended around 5:50 PM. The next portion of the meeting began around 6:00 PM. At 6:29 PM, a ParentSquare message went out to the entire district community from the Board President.
That message was not a brief notice. It was a fully produced press release, complete with prepared quotes from Board President Sheri Morgan, prepared quotes from Dr. Austin himself, multiple paragraphs of background, and a media contact line listing Morgan's direct phone number and email address.
That press release was not written in 39 minutes. It was not written after the meeting. It was written before it.
What that timeline tells us is this: while the community was left completely in the dark, Board President Morgan was coordinating outside of closed session with the incoming superintendent to craft communications around a predetermined outcome. The vote was a formality. The decision had already been made.
We want to be clear about something. This is not a commentary on Don Austin's qualifications. His record speaks for itself and we wish him well. This is about how this decision was made, and what it reveals about how this board majority continues to operate.
Transparency is not optional. Stakeholder voice is not a courtesy. And a board that hides predetermined outcomes behind closed session procedures is not serving this community. It is controlling it.
FUEL will continue to document this pattern. We will continue to show up. And we will keep working toward a board that governs the way this community deserves.
November is coming. We hope to see many of you at the Farmers Market this Saturday.
With Resolve, FUEL Board
What is happening at LBUSD right now
A time-sensitive update from FUEL on a documented pattern of closed-session decisions at Laguna Beach Unified School District. Since January 2026, the agenda item Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release has appeared in closed session six times, each time with no report out to the community. The board called a special meeting with less than 24 hours notice for May 12. FUEL also recaps the April 30 governance meeting, including the enrollment and interdistrict transfer discussion, the unanimous vote to approve a bond communications consultant, and the 4-1 vote to revise the ad hoc governance committee in a way that moves consequential decisions outside of public view. This update also includes a summary of Superintendent Glass's community benchmarking article showing LBUSD as the highest performing unified school district in Orange County.
Dear FUEL Community,
We are writing to you today with information that is time sensitive and consequential. Please read this in full.
A Pattern That Demands Attention
This district is at a critical moment. What we share below is not speculation. It is a documented pattern of decisions being made behind closed doors, without transparency, without a report out to the public, and without accountability.
In January 2026, this board majority conducted an unplanned superintendent evaluation in closed session. It was not on the regular evaluation schedule. It was not announced in advance. Since that time, the agenda item Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release has appeared in closed session five times. Each time, the board has provided no report out to the public beyond a single standard dismissal. The community has been given no information about what was discussed, what was decided, or what action, if any, was taken.
This week, the board called a special meeting with less than 24 hours notice. (EDIT: This email was drafted prior to the agenda release at 1:30 p.m. on Monday 5/11) The agenda, released Monday afternoon for Tuesday’s special meeting, includes a closed session with Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release on the agenda. Again. For the sixth time.
This is not routine.
A strong, stable, effective superintendent is one of the most important assets a school district can have. The research on this is not ambiguous. Districts that lose strong leadership mid-cycle face real and lasting consequences for students, staff, and community trust. We have watched this board work to incrementally reduce superintendent authority through bylaw changes and governance restructuring. We have watched closed session after closed session pass without a word to the public. We are deeply concerned about what this means for the future of LBUSD and for the students, staff, and families who depend on this district every single day.
Mark Your Calendar
Special Board Meeting: TOMORROW, May 12 | Closed Session: 2:30 p.m. | Open Session/Budget Study Session: 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. | LBUSD District Office, 550 Blumont Street
The agenda includes a closed session with a Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release item followed by a budget study session. The public may submit comment electronically in advance.
Submit Public Comment for May 12 | Link to Agenda
If you can be there, be there. Your presence matters.
Regular Board Meeting: Thursday, May 14 | Open session begins at 6:00 p.m. | Thurston Middle School Library | Link to Agenda | Link to Public Comment Form
The board will hold two required public hearings: one on the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) for the year ending June 30, 2027, and one on the district budget for the same period. The draft LCAP reflects input through May 1 and will continue to be revised before final adoption in June. Your voice at this hearing can still shape the final plan.
Read the draft, submit feedback using the link below, and show up Thursday.
LCAP and Budget Information: lbusd.org/about/lcap | Submit LCAP Feedback
Farmers Market: Saturday, May 16 | Come find us at the Laguna Beach Farmers Market. Say hello, bring a neighbor, and learn more about what FUEL is working on. Sign up to Volunteer HERE.
How Are Our Students and Schools Doing?
Superintendent Glass published a detailed community article this week benchmarking LBUSD's performance across the district's three goals. It is worth reading in full. Here are the highlights.
On college and career readiness, LBUSD students scored 77.5% proficient in ELA and 72.1% in math on the 2025 state assessment, making LBUSD the highest performing unified school district in Orange County in both subjects and placing us in the top 4% of all unified districts in California. The Class of 2025 graduated at a 97.5% rate. 85% had already earned college credit before leaving our schools.
On social emotional outcomes, suspension rates have fallen from 2.9% in 2023-24 to 1.0% as of April 2026, well below both the state rate of 3.3% and the national rate. Chronic absenteeism climbed midyear and the district responded with targeted family outreach. It has come back down to 9.7% and remains a focus.
On safe and equitable schools, 90% of LBUSD 9th graders report feeling safe at school. Statewide that number is 58%. Achievement gaps for students with disabilities, English learners, and economically disadvantaged students remain a priority and the data shows real progress being made.
Dr. Glass is clear that strong results are not a reason to stop improving. The district is actively studying higher performing schools to learn from them.
April 30 Governance Meeting Recap
Enrollment and Interdistrict Transfers
This was a continuation item from April 16 and one of the most substantive conversations we have seen at a board meeting this year.
The data matters. LBUSD is at a 35-year enrollment low. The median age in Laguna Beach is 52.5. The birth rate is less than half the state average. Kindergarten classes of roughly 150 students are replacing graduating classes of roughly 220. This is not a cyclical dip. It is a structural demographic shift.
The proposal on the table is modest. It would expand interdistrict transfer eligibility to children of employees of designated community partners including the city, ECAD, and the College of Art and Design. The city component includes fire, police, and lifeguards. Both the city and ECAD have already expressed enthusiasm. Student board representatives Logan and Ivy spoke supportively. The board's direction was to proceed carefully and develop a comprehensive plan. No action was taken.
Bond Consultant Agreement
The board voted 5-0 to approve an agreement with Team CIVX for bond communications consulting. This is standard practice. The consultant's role is informational, helping shape a potential ballot measure based on community priorities. It is not advocacy. Once a measure is on the ballot the district steps back entirely. The board approves all final language and bond counsel will guide what can and cannot be said throughout the process.
The discussion was more complicated than the decision warranted. The unanimous vote reflected what the evidence supported.
FUEL's View: Our schools need investment and the community deserves a clear, honest picture of what that means. We support moving this forward.
Ad Hoc Governance Committee
The board voted 4-1 to revise the existing ad hoc governance committee, adopting a superseding document brought forward by Trustee Hills. Trustee Malczewski voted no.
Her objection was substantive and worth understanding. Her position is that governance discussions, particularly those touching on board bylaws and the structure of how this district operates, belong in public where the community can observe them as they unfold. The previous board reviewed bylaws annually in open public session. A committee that meets outside of public view and brings recommendations back to the board for a vote is a different model entirely.
This concern does not exist in isolation. We have now seen the arts committee, the transportation committee, and the facilities master plan committee all operate outside of public session and bring budget recommendations directly into the LCAP and budget cycle. Each of those committees did meaningful work. But the public had no window into the deliberations that shaped those recommendations. They arrived as finished packages that may be duplicating efforts happening at the District.
A governance committee operating the same way raises the stakes considerably. Bylaws are not programs. They are the rules that govern how everything else gets decided. And based on what was said openly in this meeting, part of the intent is to revisit the balance of authority between the board and the superintendent. Trustee Hills argued directly that under Ed Code 35161 the superintendent's authority derives from board delegation and that the board retains ultimate responsibility. That is a significant position with significant implications for how this district is run.
FUEL's View: We believe in community engagement and we value the work that community members put into these committees. But community engagement is not the same as public process. The community deserves to watch consequential decisions take shape, not just receive the finished product. We will be paying close attention to how this committee operates and whether its work remains visible to the people it ultimately affects.
Help Us Show Our Coalition
We believe this will be a consequential week for our district and its future. The decisions made in the next few days will have lasting implications for our students, our staff, and the community that has invested in these schools for generations.
We are asking you to show up in whatever capacity you can.
Join Us
Follow along on Social Media
Instagram: @FUELLaguna
Facebook: @FUELLaguna
Reach out to board@fuellaguna.org with questions, connections, or to grab a coffee!
Say hi at the Farmers Market on Saturday!
Thank you for your support!
One LBUSD. One Community. April 16, 2026 Board Meeting Recap.
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.
One LBUSD. One Community. Together.
Last Thursday, something beautiful happened on Park Avenue.
Over 400 people walked together toward Main Beach, organized by CSEA and LaBUFA. Teachers. Staff. Retired educators who gave decades to this community. Students. Parents. Neighbors. People who have never been to a board meeting, but knew in their bones this moment mattered.
It was not a protest. It was a declaration. A celebration of LBUSD: students, teachers, staff, families, and community. The unions had no financial asks. This was an invitation to the larger Laguna Beach community to see the people who are joining together in this important moment. An ask for unity and respect.
To every person who walked: thank you. To every person who wanted to be there but could not: we felt you. To every educator and staff member who keeps showing up for our children every single day: you are family. We see you and we stand with you.
Thursday was proof of what we can do together. As One LBUSD, One Community.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
April 16, 2026 Board Meeting Recap
The board met just hours after the rally. Here is a high level look at what was covered, followed by the items our community needs to understand more deeply.
A senior at Laguna Beach High School stepped up during public comment to address misinformation being spread in our community. She spoke with clarity, confidence, and conviction, noting that student and teacher voices are being ignored and that board decisions directly affect her experience and the experience of students for years to come. We are proud of every young person in this district who is paying attention and using their voice. It is a testament to what we are all capable of when we support and nurture this community together. (Timestamp 00:04:25)
The Facilities Master Plan process is wrapping up with a bond consultant presentation planned for June 4. Community engagement in that process is ongoing.
The LCAP Community Participation session is April 30 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at LBHS. Childcare is provided. "The Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) is a tool for local educational agencies to develop goals, plan actions, and leverage resources to meet identified goals to improve student outcomes." Your input directly shapes how this district moves forward. Link to Register: LINK
The Ad Hoc Arts Committee presented interim budget recommendations including a district VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) coordinator, expanded community partnerships, and professional development integration. The board voted unanimously to refer these into the LCAP process for the 2026-27 budget cycle.
The Ad Hoc Transportation Committee reported meaningful progress on bus safety, communication, and access. Bus monitors and a CTE micro-transit pilot were referred into the LCAP process. The vote was 5-0.
Interdistrict transfer eligibility was presented as a discussion item only. No board action was taken. The full discussion was tabled for a future meeting. Enrollment at LBHS is approximately 818 students and, as is the trend nationally, declining. This conversation matters and our community should engage with it when it returns.
The board approved a legal services agreement with Morgan, Lewis and Bockius LLP related to an AB 218 insurance responsibility case. The vote was 3-2.
A community member raised an important concern during public comment. In 2022, the board passed a resolution committing LBUSD to carbon neutrality by 2030 and the district developed a comprehensive Energy Master Plan to get there through solar, battery storage, and energy efficient upgrades across all campuses. In February 2025, a financing mechanism called a Certificates of Participation was on the agenda and ready to move forward. Board Members Morgan and Perry pulled it from the agenda. It has never come back. With bond conversations and the Facilities Master Plan actively underway, the energy master plan has been completely absent. You can watch the moment it was pulled here: LINK. We are aligned with this concern and we are asking the board majority to bring it back to the table.
Principal Report: Joe Vidal, Thurston Middle School
Principal Vidal presented on the 8th Grade Capstone program. The work happening at Thurston is a testament to what student-centered leadership looks like in action. Students are doing meaningful, rigorous work that connects learning to the real world. Thurston has been named a 2026 California Distinguished School, specifically recognized as an achievement gap closer. Chronic absenteeism sits at 6.5 percent against a national average of 20 percent. Suspensions are at an all-time low of 1 percent. This is exactly what we want for every child in this district.
FUEL View: We celebrate Principal Vidal and the entire Thurston team on this well-deserved accomplishment.
LBUSD Environmental and Sustainability Education
Coordinator Gloria Harwood delivered one of the best presentations of the evening. LBUSD students are doing extraordinary work. The high school scored 85 percent on the comprehensive Green Ribbon application in its first year and accepted the state award last week. Students are competing in the SustainSoCal challenge, mapping beach trash with GIS technology in collaboration with Louisiana State University, and lobbying in Washington through the Citizens Climate Lobby. The FLOW program connects fire, land, ocean, and water to real civic action through every English class in January. 81 students in the Class of 2026 will graduate with the California State Seal of Civic Engagement on their diploma, up from 37 last year. It was great to hear from three LBHS students on the tremendous and meaningful experiences and work they are doing around sustainability.
FUEL View: We celebrate Gloria Harwood and every educator and student behind this work. The connection between art, climate, and civic advocacy is alive in our classrooms. This is exactly what we want our schools to produce.
What Is Happening in Closed Session
For the fifth consecutive meeting, an Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release item appeared in closed session. There was no report out of closed session.
February 26: Unscheduled performance evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Jason Glass placed on the closed session agenda with no prior notice. No report out.
March 12: Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release. Only report out was the routine release of temporary employees.
March 26: Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release. No report out.
April 9: Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release. No report out. Board Member Kelly asked President Morgan directly why this item keeps appearing. President Morgan stated she thought it had always been on there. Board Member Malczewski corrected the record on the dais, confirming the item was placed intentionally and that a discussion had taken place.
April 16: Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release. No report out. Again.
Despite that correction being made on the public record, the item returned to the agenda last week without explanation.
FUEL View: Five consecutive meetings. No transparency. We are concerned this pattern reflects board majority conversations about staff that are being shielded from public view. Our community deserves to know what is being decided behind closed doors.
Board President Morgan: A Notable Silence
The district's Staff Listening Session report was released this week through a Public Records Act request and posted to the district website the day of this meeting. Community members submitted written comments addressing it. It was available for every board member to read and acknowledge. Here is a link to the report: LINK
Board President Morgan has had multiple opportunities to address the findings in this report. She could have raised it in her board member report. She could have added it to the agenda. She did neither. Again, at the meeting, she said nothing.
The report documents what staff told their own leadership, in sessions Morgan attended and convened: governance dysfunction is the single greatest barrier to doing their jobs. Staff described fear of retaliation, erosion of trust, and a board majority whose conduct reaches into classrooms and affects our children every single day.
Our staff deserve to be treated with respect by every member of this board. We are asking the board majority specifically to not only acknowledge what is in that report, but to come back to this community with a real plan to correct it.
FUEL View: Staff spoke clearly, on the record, in good faith, in a process the president initiated and directed. The least this board president owes them is acknowledgment. That silence is its own answer.
We Need to Address What Else Happened
Before the board meeting, a Substack publication hiding under an anonymous name that has several social media channels followed and supported by Board Majority Members and Sensible Laguna Members posted an article about FUEL President Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal. At the end of that article was an AI-generated image depicting her holding an ax, covered in blood.
This is not political commentary. This is targeted, violent, racialized imagery directed at a named member of our community. It has no place in Laguna Beach. Period.
Shaheen addressed it directly during public comment. Her words deserve to be shared in full. LINK
“There is a piece circulating in this community right now that goes well beyond critique. It is personal, demeaning, and trades in tropes that women, especially women of color, are expected to absorb if they choose to lead.
This image was created and circulated by individuals aligned with the current board majority. It is an AI-generated depiction of me holding an axe covered in blood.
Let us not pretend this exists in a vacuum.
This is the environment surrounding this Board. And whether it is authored directly or amplified indirectly, it reflects on leadership.
I also want to acknowledge something else. There are people in this community, my community, who are hurting tonight. Not because of politics, but because of what this kind of discourse says about who belongs and how we are allowed to show up. I see you, and I am grateful for you.
We are not going to shrink in response to it. We are going to keep showing up, keep asking hard questions, and keep insisting on better, for our schools and for each other.
Because that is what leadership actually looks like.”
We stand with Shaheen and commend her message and leadership following this reprehensible act. We do not believe this behavior is indicative of our larger Laguna Beach community and we hope to see this addressed appropriately.
Join Us
Visit our website: www.FUELLaguna.org
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!
April 9 LBUSD Board Meeting Recap
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.
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
LBUSD Board Meeting Recap: March 26 + April 9 Preview | FUEL Laguna
The March 26 LBUSD board meeting covered restorative practices, student wellbeing data, and a district communications plan that reflects strong staff work. El Morro Elementary showed remarkable student growth. Tonight, April 9, the board takes up a community bond survey, staffing and class sizes, and a governance committee review. FUEL breaks it all down.
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.
Support FUEL
Join Us at the Farmers Market - Saturday, April 18
Come say hello, grab some treats, and bring a neighbor!
Volunteer to join the FUEL team and share our message: LINK
Attend in person at the Thurston Middle School Library. Open Session begins at 6:00 p.m. - Join us in the room to see what occurs in our school board hearings. Help us be there and witness what occurs in full from the dias.
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
How We Actually Honor Laguna Beach Taxpayers
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.
There is a pattern emerging at LBUSD board meetings. The board majority has repeatedly framed decisions around the financial contributions of this community — citing the district's $90 million budget, SchoolPower's annual giving, and community scholarship donations as context for governance decisions.
The numbers are real. The community investment in our schools is genuine and extraordinary. But the framing is wrong, and it matters.
FUEL President Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal addresses this directly. Public schools are funded through property taxes and local contributions because education is a core public good — not because financial contribution creates authority over student experience. The way we honor taxpayers is not by invoking how much they give. The way we honor them is by delivering what they are paying for: an exceptional public education system where every student thrives.
Our students are not beneficiaries of charity. They are the reason the system exists.
Watch Shaheen's full statement below.
This is a statement from FUEL President Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal addressing a pattern of governance framing at Laguna Beach Unified School District board meetings. FUEL attends every LBUSD board meeting and advocates for student-centered decision making in Laguna Beach schools.
March 12 Board Meeting Recap: FUEL's Perspective and What You Need to Know
The March 12 board meeting brought student voices, a union president in tears, a financial health update, and serious questions about how district communications are being directed. FUEL breaks it all down and shares what it means for our community.
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
The Math Behind the Outrage
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.
PUBLISHED BY LAGUNA BEACH INDEPENDENT ON MARCH 20, 2026
There has been a lot of noise around the “$1.77 million” health care issue in Laguna Beach Unified, and at this point, the number is being used more to inflame people than to inform them.
Yes, there was a real problem. For several years, the district failed to consistently apply the health care contribution formulas outlined in employee contracts. This issue should have been caught much sooner and needed to be corrected. No one disputes this.
However, the way this issue is being framed now is deeply misleading.
District staff brought this issue to public attention and commissioned an independent review. The review found a compliance and internal controls problem, but more importantly, did not find evidence of fraud, theft, or funds being “diverted.” These words are loaded and go far beyond what the actual record supports.
The main problem with the public conversation is the way the “$1.77 million” figure is being thrown around as if it tells the whole story when it does not.
$1.77 million is the total only from the years when the district paid more than the contract formula required, from FY23 to FY26. What keeps getting left out is that in FY21 and FY22, staff overpaid, so the district owed them. After completing the full reconciliation, the number brought forward for corrective action was $1.04 million. That is the figure the board acted on.
So no, this is not a case of “simple math” being ignored. It is a matter of people choosing the biggest number because it makes for a better scandal.
Context and honesty are important.
Teachers and staff did not create this problem. They selected plans from the available options based on the information provided. They should not be blamed for administrative mistakes they did not make, and they should not be turned into political punching bags because some people want to manufacture outrage.
While $1.04 million is significant, it represents a 6-year correction in a district with an annual general fund of approximately $85 million. Serious? Yes. Worth fixing? Absolutely. Proof of some sweeping conspiracy? No.
If this issue were truly as obvious and clear-cut as some claim, it would be fair to ask why a formal review and full reconciliation were necessary to determine the amount. The truth is less dramatic than the outrage campaign suggests: an administrative failure, not the scandal some people desperately want it to be.
We should require accountability, but the public also deserves accuracy, and right now that has been in short supply.
Erika Hennon Rule
LBUSD Parent
Aliso Viejo
Who Is FUEL? Meet the Families and community Behind the Movement
FUEL formed in early 2025 when a group of Laguna Beach parents asked a simple question: who is holding our school board accountable? Meet the 500+ families behind the movement and learn how you can be part of it.
If you are new here, welcome. This post is for you.
FUEL, Families Unified for Education in Laguna, was born out of a simple but urgent question. In early 2025, a shift in LBUSD school board leadership raised real concerns for families across Laguna Beach. A small group of parents looked around and asked: who is holding our board accountable? When the answer was unclear, we decided to be the answer.
Why We Formed
It started with a packed room at Thurston Middle School Library and a group of parents who were not willing to look away. What we witnessed at the December 2024 board meeting raised serious concerns about governance, tone, and accountability. We did not form out of anger. We formed out of love for this community and a belief that our schools deserve better.
Who We Are
FUEL is a coalition of over 500 families, educators, grandparents, and community members united around one thing: Laguna Beach schools. We are parents who have been in these classrooms, on these PTAs, and at these board meetings for years. We know this community because we are this community.
FUEL is led by a board of nine: Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal, Emily Rolfing, Danielle Roedersheimer, Jeff Roedersheimer, Iva Pawling, Newth Morris, Claudia Morris, Julie Gersten, and Matthew Gummow. Full bios are at fuellaguna.org/our-team.
What We Do
We show up. We share. We listen.
We attend every board meeting. We publish clear, fact-based recaps. We track board actions, explain decisions in plain language, and make it easier for families to stay informed and engaged. We also maintain a growing library of resources on topics like the Pool and Facilities Master Plan, the superintendent search process, the role of the school board, curriculum and grade weighting, and how LBUSD is funded.
In one year, FUEL grew to 500+ supporters and became one of the most trusted community voices for families in Laguna Beach. That did not happen by accident. It happened because people showed up, shared our work, and stayed engaged.
Join Us
This community is your community. You do not have to do anything dramatic to be part of this. Follow along. Share our updates. Come to a board meeting. Host a coffee with a neighbor. Ask questions. And if you are ready to do more, we would love to have you.
The next LBUSD Regular Board Meeting is Thursday, March 26 at 6:00 p.m. at Thurston Middle School Library, 2100 Park Avenue. Come see what we are all about.
Reach out at Board@FUELLaguna.org or visit FUELLaguna.org to learn more and join our community.
FUEL | Families Unified for Education in Laguna | 501(c)(4) community advocacy | FUELLaguna.org
Empathetic Citizens Are Built by Staff and Teachers
A powerful reminder that the educators in our schools are shaping more than academics. They are building the next generation of empathetic, engaged community members. This letter deserves to be read widely.
PUBLISHED BY LAGUNA BEACH INDEPENDENT ON MARCH 6, 2026
I want to thank the teachers, staff, and Dr. Glass for continuing to create a successful environment for our students, preschool through 12th grade. The LCAP midyear progress update is a useful reminder that real improvement is not flashy - it is steady and built by educators who put kids first every day.
At the February 12 board meeting, Dr. Glass paused to underscore how unusual it is to see this kind of movement at the halfway point of the year. Looking at the i-Ready shifts from the beginning of the year to midyear, he said, “That’s not good. It’s incredible.” He also noted that many districts would be thrilled to have this kind of progress at year-end and reminded the community that we still have half a year left, driven by the work happening in schools.
You can see that work in the data. For English learners, Tier 1 reading increased from 10% to 38% from fall to winter, and Tier 1 math increased from 16% to 31%. Across K through 8, fewer students are in the most intensive support category in both reading and math compared with the start of the year, which is what you want to see as interventions take hold.
At Laguna Beach High School, the progress shows up in access and opportunity. The district reported that 41% of students are enrolled in one or more CTE courses this year, and 21% have earned college credit at some point during high school.
The district’s student support system reported over 7,000 counseling contacts through January, including academic planning, crisis response, and social-emotional support. That is the behind-the-scenes work that helps students stay on track and get help when they need it.
This progress is happening because staff and teachers are putting our kids first every day. They are helping shape empathetic citizens who will carry what they learn here into our community and beyond. I appreciate Dr. Glass for publicly naming the progress, and I hope we keep backing the people who are making it real in our classrooms and on our campuses.
Erika Hennon Rule
LBUSD Parent, Aliso Viejo
If You Want Facts About Our Schools, Start With the Families in Them
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.
This is FUEL's public introduction to the Laguna Beach community, originally published as an advertisement in the Laguna Beach Independent and Stu News Laguna in January 2026. FUEL (Families Unified for Education in Laguna) is a parent-led 501(c)(4) advocacy organization supporting accountable governance of Laguna Beach Unified School District.
Effective School Board Governance: What It Means and Why It Matters — A FUEL Laguna Webinar
Former LBUSD school board member Kelly Osborne walks the Laguna Beach community through what effective school board governance actually looks like — from the mindset of individual board members to how boards set strategic goals, support superintendents, and serve every student. The webinar also covers the 2001 Measure R bond, the 10-year Facilities Master Plan, and what a potential bond extension could mean for LBUSD. Hosted by FUEL board member Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal.
This is FUEL's second community webinar, featuring former LBUSD school board member Kelly Osborne, who served from 2020 to 2024. Kelly holds a master's degree in education and currently teaches environmental literacy to over 4,000 students across eight school sites. She brings both governance experience and deep knowledge of public education to this conversation.
Topics covered include:
Why school boards exist and what citizen oversight of public education actually means. The five governance mindsets every effective board member should develop: patience, professionalism, trustworthiness, student focus, and boardsmanship. How boards transition from individual opinions to collective decision-making. The critical relationship between the school board and the superintendent and why research identifies it as the single most important driver of educational quality. What board members actually do on a weekly, monthly, and annual basis. How community members can most effectively engage with their elected board members. What challenges California school boards will face in the next 5 to 10 years, including fiscal contraction, declining enrollment, and AI in education.
The second half of the webinar covers the 2001 Measure R bond, how it was spent, what it cost property owners, and what a potential bond extension before 2028 could mean for Laguna Beach schools. Kelly also walks through the 10-year Facilities Master Plan approved in December 2023, including proposed improvements to counseling facilities, athletic fields, the aquatic center, TK classrooms, and the performing arts spaces at Thurston and LBHS.
This webinar is essential viewing for any Laguna Beach community member who wants to understand how school governance is supposed to work and why it matters when it does not.
LBUSD Finance 101: How Our Schools Are Funded — A FUEL Webinar
This is FUEL's hosted community webinar on Laguna Beach Unified School District finance, recorded in early 2025. Acting Superintendent Jeff Dixon and Board Member D. Perry joined FUEL board member Iva Pawling to walk community members through the basics of how LBUSD is funded and managed.
Topics covered include:
How LBUSD operates as a Basic Aid (community-funded) district and what that means for property tax revenue and financial stability. The difference between LBUSD and a typical LCFF district. How the district develops its annual budget and what the two required interim reports reveal. What unmodified audit results mean and why they matter. How special education is funded and why federal cuts would not impact student services. The history and mechanics of the district's general obligation bond, set to be paid off in 2028. What a certificate of participation (COP) is and how it differs from a bond. The potential for a bond extension that would unlock $80 million for facilities at no additional cost to property owners.
This webinar was produced in response to widespread community questions about LBUSD finances, the pool project, and how our schools are funded. It is one hour long and is intended for any Laguna Beach resident who wants to better understand where the money comes from and how it is managed.
This is FUEL's hosted community webinar on Laguna Beach Unified School District finance, recorded in early 2025. Acting Superintendent Jeff Dixon and Board Member D. Perry joined FUEL board member Iva Pawling to walk community members through the basics of how LBUSD is funded and managed.
Topics covered include:
How LBUSD operates as a Basic Aid (community-funded) district and what that means for property tax revenue and financial stability. The difference between LBUSD and a typical LCFF district. How the district develops its annual budget and what the two required interim reports reveal. What unmodified audit results mean and why they matter. How special education is funded and why federal cuts would not impact student services. The history and mechanics of the district's general obligation bond, set to be paid off in 2028. What a certificate of participation (COP) is and how it differs from a bond. The potential for a bond extension that would unlock $80 million for facilities at no additional cost to property owners.
This webinar was produced in response to widespread community questions about LBUSD finances, the pool project, and how our schools are funded. It is one hour long and is intended for any Laguna Beach resident who wants to better understand where the money comes from and how it is managed.