Regular Board Meeting (Open Session)

Summary

The LBUSD Board held a regular meeting on Feb 12, 2026, that ran nearly seven hours. After student presenters reported on the California Youth Climate Policy Leadership Program and a green schoolyard initiative (citing $5,347,420 set aside in the facilities master plan for outdoor spaces), the board heard reports from associations, SRO, the TOW principal, and executive cabinet. Major discussion items included the high school graduation venue (Geyer Field vs. Irvine Bowl, agendized as discussion-only and not voted on), the 25-26 mid-year LCAP update, approval of the 25-26 Comprehensive District Safety Plan (5-0), adoption of district initial proposals for collective bargaining reopeners with CSEA Chapter 131 and LaBUFA (each 5-0), a first reading of Board Policy 1445 on immigration enforcement (waived and moved to Feb 26 second reading), and a second reading of Bylaw 9322 on agenda development authority, which passed on a 3-2 vote.

Key insights (14)

• The board reported out of closed session a 3-2 vote "to include lead negotiators and the board only in closed sessions regarding a grievance case."
• Superintendent Glass announced CTO Mike Morrison has retired and that Glass would personally assume CTO duties on an interim basis with no immediate decision on long-term staffing.
• Dr. Betsy Cannenberg was recognized as ACSA Region 17 Central Office Administrator of the Year for 2026, acknowledged by multiple speakers.
• Howard Hills issued an on-the-record apology to Glass regarding his perceived adversarial tone at the prior meeting, attributing the exchange to audio system issues; Malczewski acknowledged the apology.
• Graduation venue discussion: Glass recommended the decision remain at the site level; Principal Allman reported a student survey showed an even split between Geyer Field and Irvine Bowl; community member Elizabeth Bates cited a 700+ signature petition and an Instagram poll she said showed "roughly 80% of the community support" for returning to the Irvine Bowl.
• LCAP mid-year data: K-8 reading Tier 1 grew, with only 7% remaining in Tier 3; math Tier 1 similarly improved with 5% in Tier 3; 21% of LBHS students have earned early college credit; 41% are enrolled in CTE; 59% take an AP course; suspensions dropped from 2.9% (23-24 EOY) to 0.8% mid-year (19 students total suspended through January).
• Glass characterized LBUSD as "an elite performing school district, competitive with any school system in the world," while identifying high school math and targeted student groups (English learners, students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged) as focus areas.
• LaBUFA President Scott Wittkop and CSEA representative Zuziak announced they had filed a grievance over changes to the negotiation structure, with Wittkop stating it could delay the March 4 opening of negotiations. Zuziak said the three-member board majority "destroyed that foundation" in "just six months."
• Wittkop pushed back on Hills's emails about $1.3 million in funds: "That money wasn't to the unions, it was to the entire staff here at Laguna Beach High School, including board members."
• Bylaw 9322 (agenda authority) passed 3-2 on second reading (Morgan, Hills, Perry yes; Malczewski, Kelly no) after Malczewski's motion to revert to original wording failed 2-3. Morgan added language allowing public members to appeal a denied agenda request to the board; Glass advised this introduced unreviewed governance risk and suggested sending it back to counsel.
• Board Policy 1445 (response to immigration enforcement) first reading was waived and moved to Feb 26 (5-0); Glass cited the March 1, 2026 statutory deadline under AB 495 and the California Attorney General's December 1, 2025 model policy.
• Public comment (17 cards, beginning around 1 a.m.) was uniformly critical of the board majority's procedural changes. Multiple speakers stated staff reported feeling unable to "speak openly" out of "fear of retaliation." Steve McIntosh quoted Hills's own 2021 public comment back to him: "The idea that the board majority can adopt protocols to silence opposition of the board minority on any issue is so juvenile and inane."
• Malczewski questioned the board's frequent change of legal counsel ("our board is now on... their fourth attorney this year") and asked whether the district is "shopping for an attorney that will support board majority initiatives"; Glass responded that counsel "represents the district as an institution... it doesn't represent an individual trustee."
• Two CBA proposals were adopted 5-0: the district's initial proposal for the 2026-2029 LaBUFA agreement and the district's proposal for 2026-2027 reopeners to the CSEA 2024-2027 agreement.

Linked timeline events (4)

• Dec 11, 2025 Board reorganization: Morgan elected President 3–2, Perry Clerk 3–2
• Jan 2026 FUEL reports unplanned superintendent evaluation
• Feb 26, 2026 Governance meeting addresses board oversight authority
• Apr 24, 2026 Zuziak op-ed reports classified staff no-confidence vote