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
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