What’s Going On in LBUSD? Start Here.
A guide to the superintendent transition, board tension, staff concerns, data fights, bond questions, and what voters should understand before November.
Updated May 13, 2026: Since this guide was first published, LBUSD has entered a superintendent transition, with the district announcing that Dr. Jason Glass will conclude his service effective May 31, 2026.
A lot is happening in Laguna Beach Unified right now, and it can be hard to know where to begin.
There are debates about test scores, facilities, the bond, staff trust, board conduct, district leadership, transportation, special education, and the November election. But the bigger question is simple:
What kind of school district does Laguna Beach want to be?
LBUSD is not perfect, and no district is. Hard questions should be asked about student outcomes, spending, facilities, special education, transportation, and long-term planning. However, asking hard questions is not the same as undermining the people doing the work. Transparency is not the same as chaos. Improvement is not the same as pretending the district is failing.
That is the line I am watching.
I write about LBUSD as a parent who is paying close attention: reading the materials, attending meetings when I can, following the data, and trying to separate what is actually happening from what people are trying to make it sound like is happening.
What is happening now
These are the most current pieces on the superintendent transition, board conduct, and the instability facing the district.
School board governance
These explain the larger pattern: what school boards are supposed to do, and what happens when oversight turns into interference.
LBUSD’s stats & data
There is a lot of conversation about whether LBUSD is succeeding, declining, or failing. These pieces explain why one chart, one test score, or one talking point does not tell the whole story.
Facilities and the bond
Facilities are not just buildings. They shape safety, access, athletics, arts, learning environments, and the daily experience of students and staff.
Why this matters
November is coming, and by the time campaign mailers arrive, everyone will have a slogan.
The work now is to understand the substance before the slogans take over. That means reading the actual materials, attending meetings when possible, following what is happening here, and staying connected with other parents and community members who care about where LBUSD is headed.
FUEL (Families Unified for Education in Laguna) is one place to do that. It is a local parent and community group focused on supporting responsible school board leadership, protecting LBUSD’s strengths, and helping voters stay informed before November.
LBUSD’s future should be shaped by people who understand that public schools are not just budgets, buildings, test scores, or board agendas. They are children, families, teachers, staff, trust, and community.
That is what is at stake.