Regular Board Meeting (Open Session)

Summary

The LBUSD Board held its March 26, 2026 regular meeting beginning at 6:06 p.m., with President Morgan presiding alongside Hills, Perry, Malczewski, and Kelly, plus student representatives Ivy and Logan, Glass, and cabinet members Mike Conlon and Manoj Roychowdhury. Major presentations included an El Moro principal report from Dr. Julie Hatchell showing iReady mid-year growth (ELA tier-one proficiency 63% to 70%; math 31st to 57th percentile), an SRO report on a recent shelter-in-place, a restorative practices and California Healthy Kids Survey update from Dr. Michael Keller (district suspension rate 1%, 30 suspensions year-to-date, one expulsion), and a communications plan review from Anna Karen and Glass that was tabled mid-discussion. The board passed the consent calendar items B through J in a 5-0 vote and approved item C (Irvine Bowl correction for senior awards venue) on a separate vote, then adjourned at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Key insights (12)

• Morgan opened with an apology and clarification of her March 13 statement, citing Bylaw 9323, noting she should have said the board could "move to clear the room" rather than move to closed session.
• Malczewski addressed employee health benefits at length, stating "the current board in December approved a $1.04 million appropriation to cover the shortfall" and characterizing some public framing of the issue as implying "wrongdoing and malfeasance" when she views it as a structural problem affecting many districts; she cited San Francisco, Petaluma [transcription uncertain], Dublin, and Chula Vista as comparison points.
• Hills responded directly, stating the Bishop audit "said the payments were unlawful, they were not done in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement, and they weren't done in accordance with the bylaws," and that Newport-Mesa (under former LBUSD business director Jeff Dixon) is "taking the increased costs out of the paychecks of the employees."
• Trustee Kelly stated he has "suggested to Dr. Glass that he find a job someplace else," saying "you don't treat a superintendent, especially a new one, the way that this board majority has been treating the superintendent," and said he had emails (names redacted) he would distribute.
• Dr. Keller reported district suspension rate of 1% versus state 2.9%, Orange County 1.8%, and national 5%; LBHS at 2.3% versus national high school 7%; he stated 95% of currently enrolled students have never been suspended.
• Public speaker Dr. John Hornstein recounted his son Zach's five-day suspension over an incident involving a MAGA hat and an alleged "get out of my country" statement; he said evidence including a video showed his son did not make the statement, that Glass overturned the suspension on appeal, and that Glass acknowledged "they tried to make an example of my son."
• FUEL Chair Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal addressed school funding mechanics, referencing SB 43 and stating "school funding is not available to be redirected to other local priorities, including city needs."
• Gary Kasik expressed disappointment with "board member Malczewski declining to participate on governance subcommittee."
• Morgan referenced "persistent personal attacks against community members and the board" and characterized some online conduct as "a master class in cyberbullying 101."
• LCAP survey participation reported as approximately 90% staff and substantially increased parent participation; parent satisfaction with district communication trended from 67% (2022-23) upward; Instagram followers up ~10% YTD; It's-a-Wrap subscriptions up ~12%; 21 press releases issued.
• The communications plan discussion was tabled to April 9 after Hills began detailing concerns about Bylaw 9121, a December 16 statement to newspapers regarding the JoAnn Culverhouse interim contract vote (3-2 with Kelly and Malczewski dissenting), and the role of the board president in communications.
• The board voted to extend the meeting past 10:00 p.m., and approved the consent calendar 5-0 with item C (Senior Awards venue change from Geyer Field to Irvine Bowl) corrected to reflect a 3-2 vote rather than the originally recorded outcome.

Linked timeline events (5)

• Jul 1, 2025 Glass officially begins as Superintendent
• Sep 2025 Bishop & Associates forensic audit completed
• Sep 25, 2025 Weiss alleges Glass-Hills clash over audit framing
• Oct 9, 2025 Glass presents 100-Day Superintendent Report
• Dec 16, 2025 Board votes 5–0 to absorb $850K health benefits shortfall