Laguna Beach School Board Meeting May 14, 2026 (Open Session)

May 14, 2026

Executive Summary

The Laguna Beach School Board held a highly contentious meeting on May 14, 2026, dominated by public outcry over the recent forced resignation of Superintendent Dr. Jason Glass after only 10 months in the position. Students, teachers, staff, and community members packed the meeting room to express deep concerns about the governance practices of the board majority (President Sherry Morgan, Clerk D Perry, and Member Howard Hills), citing lack of transparency, instability, and unprofessional conduct. The meeting featured passionate public comments criticizing the board's decision-making and announcing withdrawals from district committees, while union representative Scott Wittkop from LBUFA implored all parties to work together and allow incoming Superintendent Don Austin to do his job without interference. Despite the intense public criticism, the board proceeded with scheduled business including public hearings on the 2026-27 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and budget. Staff presentations highlighted strong district performance, with Laguna Beach ranking in the top 4% of California school districts, 85% of graduates earning early college credit, and 96% daily attendance

Key Decisions

- The board opened public hearings on the 2026-27 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) at 7:12 PM and the 2026-27 budget at 8:33 PM, closing both hearings after public comment and staff presentations (no formal votes required for public hearings). - Board President Sherry Morgan ruled that public celebrations during public comment should be limited to "jazz hands" rather than cheering or applause to avoid disruption, establishing a three-second limit for cheering before it would be considered disruptive. - The board agreed to extend the initial 20-minute public comment period to allow