Laguna Beach hears from school board candidates with 3 seats up for grabs
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Less than two months before election day, candidates are making the rounds to make sure residents keep them in mind when it comes time to cast their ballots on Nov. 3.
There has been turmoil on the board of education in the Laguna Beach Unified School District, headlined by split votes surrounding the dismissal of one superintendent, Jason Glass, and the appointment of Don Austin as the replacement.
Both of those decisions were passed down by a board majority that included President Sheri Morgan, Clerk Dee Perry and Howard Hills. Morgan and Hills are halfway through their first terms.
The balance of the board seats are up for grabs this November. Perry, serving her third consecutive term, and Joan Malczewski, closing out her first, are seeking re-election. James Kelly will not seek another term after serving since 2018.
Malczewski, a history professor at UC Irvine, was among three of the school board candidates to appear at a forum that was held at the Neighborhood Congregational Church on Tuesday night in conjunction with a city council candidates forum.
Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal, an attorney who co-founded Families Unified for Education in Laguna, and Kimberly Smith, a technology executive, also participated. Each is a parent in the district.
Perry, as well as challenger Elizabeth Bates, did not attend Tuesday’s forum. They have been campaigning together, distributing signs with both their names and inviting residents to meet them for coffee talks.
Stu News’ Shaena Stabler, the moderator for the school board portion of the evening, asked the candidates a series of questions related to collaboration, conflict resolution, and board member conduct in online communications.
Sheik-Sadhal, a past PTA president and School Power trustee, highlighted “coalition building” as a personal strength. When asked how she would determine next steps for a high-performing district, she said she would “ask the experts,” referring to the teachers and staff.
Smith took a similar approach when asked about building back trust within the school community. She tapped into sentiments that saw the Laguna Beach Unified Faculty Assn. and the California School Employees Assn. organize a rally in April.
“I want to speak specifically to teachers … because in this last year, there was a 90% no-confidence vote in our board from our teachers,” Smith said. “If that doesn’t scream that there needs [to be] a change, I’m not sure what does. We cannot ask the teachers in our community to do any more. We need to listen. We need to understand, and we need to do our homework and show up. That’s our obligation as the board, because ultimately, we serve this district. The district does not serve us.”
As an academic, Malczewski said she loves a “good disagreement,” but she added it takes a willingness to listen, to develop trusting relationships and to collaborate. Malczewski stated that fundamentally, the board should act as a whole.
“We don’t have to agree, but you’re supposed to act as one board,” Malczewski said. “You’re supposed to understand people’s perspectives and think about whether or not those perspectives can be incorporated. … I don’t see myself as being in a position to be speaking independently, as a board member, of the board. That’s how a board learns to work together.”
Agenda items may be debated, and votes can be explained, but once the board takes action, “it’s done,” Malczewski added of board members’ responsibility to support the ability of the board to govern effectively following a decision they disagree with.
Getting rid of the idea of a majority and working to build consensus would be “ideal,” said Sheik-Sadhal.
Listening should be extended to the community members speaking up in public comment, Smith added, saying, “I think that we, as a board, should be making sure that we’re hearing the community and the constituents in which we’re supporting.”
All of the candidates agreed that they would not argue with or criticize individual community members online.
