ACLU threatens legal action over alleged LBUSD Brown Act violations
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has threatened legal action against the Laguna Beach Unified School District over alleged violations of California’s Ralph M. Brown Act.
The action follows a letter to LBUSD Board President Sheri Morgan and the other members of the Board of Education by resident Meredith McMahon, who expressed serious concerns about multiple alleged failures of the Board to comply with the requirements of California’s open meetings law.
Among the concerns raised was the Board’s June 8, 2026, closed-session discussion of whether to launch an investigation into a May 14 nonviolent protest involving parents, teachers and students. The Board held that discussion in closed session without publicly indicating beforehand that it would consider the matter.
According to the ACLU, the Board improperly discussed and authorized an investigation into the May 14 protest during closed session when the matter should have been considered in open session.
In its demand letter, the ACLU raised two procedural demands – first, a “Cure or Correct” demand asking the Board to undo actions it alleges were taken illegally on June 8, and second, a “Cease and Desist” demand asking the Board to refrain from future Brown Act violations.
These are procedural steps required before certain Brown Act lawsuits may be filed. The Board has 30 days to respond.
The ACLU identifies three primary concerns:
First, the ACLU argues the Board relied on a closed-session exemption that did not apply. The cited Brown Act provision permits closed sessions involving threats to public services or facilities when consulting with law enforcement or specified security officials. According to the ACLU, the Board instead met only with its attorney and fellow Board members.
Second, the ACLU contends the agenda failed to provide adequate public notice. The agenda referred only to a “Conference with Legal Counsel – Threat to Public Services or Facilities” and did not indicate the Board intended to discuss the May 14 protest or consider authorizing an investigation.
Third, the ACLU argues the Board did more than simply discuss the matter. It points to Board President Morgan’s subsequent statement directing legal counsel to investigate the rally, determine whether any policies or laws had been violated and retain an outside investigator. According to the ACLU, those actions should have occurred in public session.
The ACLU is asking the Board to halt the investigation, rescind any contract with an outside investigator, cure the alleged Brown Act violations and agree to refrain from future Brown Act violations.
If the Board declines, the ACLU says it may pursue litigation.
The latest allegations come as the Board is already facing scrutiny over separate alleged Brown Act violations involving the “mutual separation” of one superintendent and the hiring of another.
An inquiry was sent Wednesday to Board President Morgan seeking her response to the ACLU’s allegations, whether she and the Board dispute the ACLU’s interpretation of the Brown Act, whether an outside investigator had already been retained and whether the district intends to respond publicly before the 30-day deadline.
The district responded with the following:
“The district has received the ACLU’s July 7 letter and is reviewing the legal issues it raises. We respect the ACLU’s longstanding work in protecting constitutional rights, but we disagree with its conclusions regarding the Board’s compliance with the Brown Act. The district will provide a formal response within the 30-day timeframe established under the Brown Act.
“The Board’s closed session was agendized pursuant to Government Code section 54957(a), which expressly authorizes closed session discussions regarding threats to public services or facilities. The Brown Act permits a legislative body to consult in closed session with agency counsel on these matters, and the agenda identified the district’s legal counsel consistent with the statute’s prescribed agenda language. On June 8, the Board directed an investigation into the events of May 14, and that direction remains unchanged.
“The district’s formal response will address the legal issues raised in the ACLU’s letter, as well as the specific facts surrounding the events of May 14 and the Board’s actions under the Brown Act.”
The clock continues to tick on a district facing mounting controversy.
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Nick Aronoff, a longtime Laguna Beach resident, has announced that he will seek a seat on the Laguna Beach City Council in the upcoming November election. Aronoff, a fourth-generation local, said his campaign “will focus on restoring common sense to City Hall while ensuring residents have a stronger voice in the decisions affecting the community.”
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Courtesy of nickforlaguna.com
Newly announced City Council Candidate Nick Aronoff
Aronoff’s roots in Laguna Beach run deep. His great-grandparents moved to town in the late 1940s; Nick attended Anneliese, El Morro Elementary, Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School.
His parents, Frank & Marsha Aronoff, have been involved in the community for decades.
A central theme of his campaign is what he believes is the growing disconnect between residents and City Hall. Too often, he says, major projects move forward before the community has a meaningful opportunity to weigh in, whether on development, infrastructure, public safety or quality-of-life issues. And while tourism is an important part of the local economy, Aronoff believes Laguna Beach is first and foremost a residential community, and the people who live here year-round should never feel like an afterthought.
You can find out more on his campaign website at https://nickforlaguna.com.
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The Festival of Arts celebrates the next generation of Orange County artists with their annual Junior Art Awards and Family Art Day this Sunday, July 12.
The day begins with the Junior Art Awards from 11 a.m.-12 p.m., recognizing talented student artists whose work is featured in the 2026 Festival of Arts Junior Art Exhibition. The exhibition has been a beloved tradition since 1947, and this year features more than 330 works of art created by OC students. Works will remain on display through September 3.
Next, from 12-3 p.m. Family Art Day transforms the Festival grounds into a lively circus-inspired celebration where families can enjoy free hands-on art projects in the Festival Art Center, along with face painting, carnival games and a spectacular aerial performance by Orange County Aerial Arts.
Admission to the Junior Art Awards and Family Art Day is included with admission to the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show. Tickets are $15 on Sunday, July 12, with free admission for children ages 5 and under, active-duty military and veterans, and Laguna Beach residents.
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On June 16, the Pacific Life Foundation welcomed 175 nonprofit executives and grantees to their Newport Beach office for their annual grants reception. Included among those invited was the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. To recognize their longstanding partnership, Pacific Life honored PMMC with the Walter B. Gerken Community Service Award, which is a $100,000 unrestricted grant, directly supporting their ongoing expansion project.
PMMC has been closed to the public since 2023, serving patients at an offsite location. What once was a humble equestrian barn, turned sea lion care center, is now gearing up to reopen its doors as a state-of-the-art visitor attraction, including a brand-new rescue and teaching hospital, viewing pools, education center, research hub and water reclamation site.
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Photo by Bill Lackey
The Walter B. Gerken Community Service Award will directly support PMMC’s ongoing expansion project
The $13M project has continued longer than planned and is now at the tail end of their construction and permitting process approaching $20 million – the largest financial undertaking by the organization since its inception. An undertaking that PMMC says still needs significant financial support to help re-open their doors in 2026.
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On Tuesday, July 14 from 2-3 p.m., I hope you’ll enjoy a fun and entertaining “road trip” down the historic Route 66 with local artist Joan Gladstone as she presents at Susi Q Senior Center.
First off, if you’ve been hiding in a hole, or living on the North Slope of Alaska, and somehow don’t know that Joan has painted quite the collection of vibrant oil paintings of notable stops along Route 66, I’m sorry that you’ve missed them.
But now’s your chance to get back with it and join those in the know.
Joan will take you behind-the-scenes to learn her creative process for bringing iconic roadside signs, many that have disappeared or faded away, back to life. These signs have guided millions of people as they drove from Chicago to Santa Monica to experience cities and small towns, national parks and clever attractions, mom-and-pop diners and motels, along the nation’s first great highway.
Don’t miss it. It’s FREE! Register at www.thesusiq.org.
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Speaking of fun…think great costumes by Brigitte Harper, a hit parade of dance floor favorites to include “It’s Raining Men,” “I Will Survive,” “Hot Stuff,” “Go West,” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “I Love The Nightlife”…what’s that spell? Well, it doesn’t spell anything…that’s a cheer, but it does offer the bones to No Square Theatre’s upcoming presentation of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – the musical.
It’s based on the smash-hit movie, and tells the heartwarming, uplifting adventures of three, glamorous Sydney-based performing drag artists – Tick, Bernadette and Adam.
The three take their show on the road to the middle of the Australian Outback, by hopping aboard Priscilla, a battered old bus, in search of love and friendship while battling homophobia and a break down from Priscilla. Ultimately, they discover the bonds of friendship and more than they, or you for that matter, could ever imagine!
It’s wildly fresh and funny…and in a theater near you from July 17-August 2.
No Square Theatre proudly serves as Laguna’s only community theater since 1997, with performances in the historic Legion Hall, at 384 Legion St.
To purchase tickets before the show sells out, visit the website at nosquare.org.
