January 22 was my final straw
Why I’ve starting to write letters to the editor about the Laguna Beach Unified School District School Board and what I’ll be watching going forward.
I did not set out to become someone who watches school board meetings and then writes letters to the editor. I am a parent with a busy life, and like most people, I assumed the adults in the room would keep things steady even when they disagreed.
The January 22 meeting was the final straw for me. Not because everyone needs to agree, and not because debate is bad. It was because the tone and conduct crossed a line that should be obvious in a public institution: respect for the community, and respect for the district leadership and staff who keep our schools running.
So I’m starting to write letters to the editor after meetings, because the public record matters. Not the rumors, not the group chat versions, and not the loudest clip that makes the rounds. The actual decisions, the actual processes, and the actual standards we are normalizing in public, and it’s time to change that.
If you want to read the first two letters, they’re here:
If you have been feeling that quiet discomfort, you are not alone. I am not interested in outrage for its own sake — I am interested in raising expectations for how we conduct public business, because our kids are watching, and our staff deserves better.