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
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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
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.
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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.
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.
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.