School board reviews safety measures following contentious May meeting, protest
By SARA HALL
The Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) Board of Education on September 24 reviewed safety and preparedness recommendations for future board meetings. No action was taken on the discussion-only item.
“The time to plan for these things is when they’re not happening,” said Superintendent Don Austin.
On May 12, board members voted 3-2 in closed session to cut ties with then-Superintendent Jason Glass. Two days later, in another 3-2 vote, the board appointed Austin as superintendent.
On May 14, nearly 200 people lined the street and filled the meeting room, with almost all supporting Glass and criticizing the board for its actions. Many wore shirts or held signs that declared “Shame on you” or waved pom-poms.
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Submitted photo
Protesters at the May 14 demonstration outside of the school board meeting
Board members unanimously agreed in closed session on September 10 to release the findings of an investigation into the tumultuous meeting.
Investigators concluded that it was an exercise of First Amendment rights but was “angry, intense, loud, and targeted at specific board members who felt intimidated and harassed.” They also found no evidence of criminal activity or intent to physically harm board members or others.
Recommendations included assigning staff to review social media to identify potential issues and prepare for possible disruptions, and considering changing the meeting location.
Missing from the recommendations was a discussion of what the board could have done differently leading up to the protest, commented member Joan Malczewski.
“I find it shocking, but not surprising, that the board majority has demonstrated no ability to be reflective about the events on May 14 or to think deeply about how their actions contributed to what followed,” she said. “It’s entirely laughable for any board member to claim that they were targeted. People protested board members who made bad decisions. It’s not bullying, it’s the reason for the protest.”
It’s important for students and the public to protest and exercise their democratic rights. This could have been a lesson in democracy, she said.
“This board majority, instead of having an educative moment, launched an investigation that was targeted toward parents, students and staff,” Malczewski commented.
Board member Dee Perry was most bothered by the “I hate (specific board member)” signs, not by the fact that people were upset about the decision.
“I could see the anger in people’s eyes and that was really, really concerning to me,” Perry said. “I just don’t feel like this was a safe situation because of all the anger.”
The school district needs to do a better job preparing for future public protests and keeping them more orderly, said board member Howard Hills.
He said he thought the investigators “missed the point” in the report, particularly regarding his concern that Perry was not freely able to exercise her right of assembly because the crowd momentarily prevented her from entering the building to attend the meeting.
President Sheri Morgan recommended staff develop a follow-up process for events with any “social and emotional touchpoints.” Programs in the past have addressed what bullying, intimidation and targeting look like, she noted, and the district should use funds already in the budget to rethink that approach.
During public comment, a handful of speakers urged the board to reflect on the reason for the protest.
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“The events of May 14 are directly attributable to abysmal board governance,” said Ketta Brown, naming several concerns and complaints raised by the public prior to the protest. “The coup de grâce was the cruel and heartless dismissal of Dr. Glass.”
Briana Heathcott said the board should apply the same level of scrutiny to what brought people to that point. The May 14 protest did not happen in a vacuum, she said; people did not suddenly wake up one day angry at the school board.
Several speakers also emphasized the importance of free speech and protecting the right to protest.
Some commenters argued that the investigation changed the focus from the root concerns of the protesters to depicting the demonstration itself as the problem.
“It felt like an attempt to shift blame and create false narratives,” said Taylor Bennett.
The investigation was unnecessary, she added.
“What you are doing is trying to deflect away from your personal responsibility on what made people in this community so upset and compelled to gather in the first place,” Danielle Roedersheimer said.
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Sara Hall covers City Hall and is a regular contributor to Stu News Laguna.
