Board Governance Meeting (Open Session)

Summary

The February 26, 2026 LBUSD board governance meeting covered three primary substantive items: high school graduation venue, six immigration-related policy adoptions, and a governance training presentation by new board counsel Jonathan Pearl of Dannis Woliver Kelly. Board members present included President Morgan, Hills, Perry, Malczewski, Kelly, and student representatives Ivy and Logan. The board voted 3-2 to relocate the 2026 LBHS graduation from Geyer Field to the Irvine Bowl despite Glass's recommendation that the venue remain a site-level decision (Hills, Morgan, Perry in favor; Malczewski and Kelly opposed; both student board members also voted no). The board also adopted policies 1445, 5125.1, 1340, 0450, and a CDOJ "Know Your Educational Rights" guide aligned with Education Code 234.7. Pearl presented an introductory governance training on Board Bylaw series 9000, board-superintendent roles, and best practices.

Key insights (13)

• Motion to move non-agenda public comment to beginning of meeting failed 3-2 at opening; it remained at end of meeting.
• Board voted 3-2 to move LBHS graduation to the Irvine Bowl for 2026; Hills, Morgan, and Perry voted yes; Malczewski and Kelly voted no. Both student board members also voted no.
• A substitute motion to keep graduation at Geyer Field for 2026 and move to the Irvine Bowl starting 2027 failed 1-4.
• Glass repeatedly stated his recommendation that graduation venue "stay a site level determination" and that decision authority had been delegated to administration; he said a student survey was "split right down the middle."
• Kelly initially attempted to abstain on the graduation vote, stating "this is not something that the board should be voting on"; Morgan stated abstention required a financial conflict of interest, after which Kelly voted no.
• Hills stated: "There are no lanes. When the at the point where you're a legislative body and your deliberative body... the board is not restricted to the lanes that are created administratively."
• Student board member Logan responded to Hills: "There are lanes. There is clearly defined separation of shared power... the board is the one who decides what happens is dangerous."
• Board adopted (5-0) six policies aligned with Education Code 234.7 on immigration enforcement in schools; first reading was waived on five subsequent items. Initial vote was retaken after public comment was inadvertently skipped.
• Jonathan Pearl, new counsel from Dannis Woliver Kelly, presented governance training emphasizing "it's not a separation of powers... it's very much hand in glove" between board and superintendent, and stated the board acts only through collective majority authority.
• Morgan stated the governance series was scheduled because "throughout the past year, there has been multiple debates... on the understanding and interpretation of our bylaws" and that the board had spent "tons of time arguing over even what does it mean."
• LaBUFA President Scott Wittkop, teacher Heather Hansen, teacher Michelle Foster, and CSEA representative Nikki Romano addressed the board; Foster stated 55 staff attended a listening session and described "dysfunction created by you, Howard, and Dee" as impeding work. Foster also characterized board majority behavior: "we see you three as bullies on the playground."
• Speaker Erica Riley cited Board Policy 9000, Bylaw 9200, Policy 5127, Education Code 35035 and 35161, stating "When a board begins to step into operational decisions, even symbolic ones, it signals a shift. Governance becomes management. Oversight becomes control."
• Petition organizer Liz Bates stated the Irvine Bowl petition had "over 1,100 signatures" and that she had been corresponding with administration about the venue since August 2025.

Linked timeline events (3)

• Jul 1, 2025 Glass officially begins as Superintendent
• Dec 11, 2025 Board reorganization: Morgan elected President 3–2, Perry Clerk 3–2
• Feb 26, 2026 Governance meeting addresses board oversight authority