Regular Board Meeting (Open Session)

Summary

The April 9, 2026 LBUSD Board regular meeting opened with public comment on non-agenda items, followed by three main agenda items. Trustees present included President Morgan, Perry, Hills, Malczewski, Kelly, and student member Ivy (with Logan absent); Glass, Roychowdhury, board counsel Jonathan Pearl, and communications director Anna Karen Urano participated. The board received a community bond survey presentation from Dr. Tim McLarney of True North Research regarding a potential $83 million bond extension at the existing $8.85 per $100,000 assessed valuation tax rate, continued discussion of the district communications plan (Board Policy 1100), and heard a staffing/class-size report. The board voted to table the governance discussion (Item 9) to April 16. No reportable action was taken in closed session; the meeting adjourned at 9:53 PM.

Key insights (12)

• True North Research presented bond feasibility survey results: 547 completed interviews of 18,041 likely November voters, plus or minus 4.1% margin of error. Initial ballot test support was 59%, rising to 66% after the bond-extension concept was clarified, 70% at interim test, and 64% after negative arguments tested; 55% threshold required for passage.
• The proposed measure is an extension of the 2001 bond at the current $8.85 per $100,000 assessed valuation, expiring after the 2027-28 tax year; financial advisor Adam Bauer (Fieldman, Rolapp) noted Laguna Beach has the second-lowest school tax rate in Orange County.
• Bauer clarified that the median assessed value in the district is approximately $1,317,600, translating to roughly $117 per year per household, contrary to the $253 figure cited by some speakers based on a $2.9 million market-price home.
• McLarney stated that in his career he had seen "only one bond extension ever lose on the ballot," attributed to "two of the board members changed their mind and campaigned against their own measure."
• Public comment on the bond was uniformly supportive, including former board member Kelly Osborne, Newth Morris, Sarah Durand (SchoolPower Executive Director), Erica Rule, Jeb Brown, Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal, Kimberly Smith, Keta Brown, Aaron Berryman, Leslie Elliott, Michelle Heiberg, and Kathy. Several urged the board to place the measure on the November ballot.
• Leslie Elliott stated: "I sincerely hope that we don't become Dr. McClarney's second district to lose a bond due to the board... that outcome will be your legacy."
• A speaker raised concerns about repeated closed-session "employee dismissal" items with no public report-out, citing Brown Act compliance and noting "Member Perry, Member Morgan, and Member Hills... are under scrutiny for Brown Act violations." Counsel Pearl responded that under Brown Act 54957(b)(1) reportable actions must be disclosed, but if "no action is taken... no report out is required."
• Hills questioned the communications plan structure and Board Bylaws 9121 and 1112, arguing the board president has an "independent role" in communications; Glass replied that direction to the superintendent should occur "through your policies, or you do it collectively through a board action and a public vote."
• Malczewski stated regarding the January 20 communication memo: "you can't act on behalf of the board" as one board member, characterizing concerns about a board-focused communications direction.
• Staffing report by Dr. Mayberry and CBO Roychowdhury detailed average class sizes: K-2 smaller than 3-5; secondary averages in the 20-24 range. A retirement-incentive study by PARS was conducted but not advanced to the formal "fly" stage; Glass cited liability concerns of "several hundred thousand dollars a year for four years," potential credit-rating impact ahead of a possible bond, and bond reserves drawn down for the pool as factors against proceeding.
• The board voted unanimously to move Item 9 (governance discussion) to the April 16 meeting.
• Glass referenced the upcoming bond timeline: a resolution would need to be passed by approximately August 7-9 to place a measure on the November ballot; the Facility Master Plan committee is concurrently developing the project list, with Roychowdhury estimating facility needs "to the north of 100 to 120 million."

Linked timeline events (2)

• Jul 1, 2025 Glass officially begins as Superintendent
• Apr 16, 2026 March in solidarity with LBUSD staff; board meeting