LBHS Principal Allemann emails students with graduation-location survey
On February 3, 2026, LBHS Principal Dr. Jason Allemann sent an email to students that included a survey inviting community input on the 2026 graduation location (Irvine Bowl vs. Guyer Field). Per the joint LBHS+TMS staff presentation attached to the Feb 12, 2026 board agenda, the survey reached n=107 student respondents and was characterized as "an even split in venue preference." Per the breakdown surfaced via the Samantha Savage counter-petition and the Mar 12, 2026 public comment record, ~50% of approximately 213 eligible students responded, with Guyer Field receiving 47.1% and Irvine Bowl 46.2% (~7.5% no preference) — a ~0.9-point Guyer lead rather than a precise tie. Superintendent Glass clarified on the record that the School Board, not the site administration, holds full authority over the final decision — foreshadowing the procedural posture of the February 26, 2026 3-2 board vote. The survey is the documented community-input step that preceded the board vote.
People referenced
Citations (3)
- 71 years of tradition returns to Laguna Beach High School's graduation news Brush and Palette (LBHS student newspaper, lbhsnews.com)Brush and Palette (LBHS student newspaper, lbhsnews.com) · Chloe Falk · 2026-03-26
On February 3, 2026, LBHS Principal Dr. Jason Allemann sent an email to students that included a survey inviting input on the graduation location. While the survey encouraged community feedback, Superintendent Jason Glass later clarified that the School Board holds full authority over the final decision.
Brush and Palette's primary-source narrative of the upstream survey + Glass's clarification on the record.
- Planning Considerations for Promotion and Graduation 2026 (staff presentation) primary Laguna Beach Unified School District — LBHS and Thurston Middle School leadershipLaguna Beach Unified School District — LBHS and Thurston Middle School leadership · 2026-02-09
In response to interest in re-exploring commencement locations, the LBHS leadership team gathered student feedback, which reflected an even split in venue preference and provided qualitative insight into what students value most in the commencement experience. The following slides highlight the key themes that emerged from student feedback. (n = 107)
Primary-document confirmation of the Allemann survey at n=107 respondents, characterized by LBHS+TMS staff leadership in the joint Feb 12 presentation as 'an even split in venue preference.' The underlying ~47.1%/46.2% breakdown was later surfaced via the Savage counter-petition.
- Change.org (Samantha Savage, petitioner) · Samantha Savage · 2026-03-01
Counter-petition (Samantha Savage) cites the survey breakdown as ~50% LBHS student participation with Guyer Field at 47.1% and Irvine Bowl at 46.2% — a ~0.9-point Guyer lead, more specific than Glass's 'split right down the middle' framing at the Feb 26 vote.