District facilities director resigning

Ted Doughty, director of facilities for Laguna Beach Unified, will retire in June after two years at his position, according to a district release.

Doughty, 56, came to the district after serving 14 years in similar roles in the San Diego Unified and Santee school districts.

He and his wife, Cinda, a charter school director, discussed the financial feasibility of them retiring six months ago, Doughty said.

Doughty’s last day will be June 30.

“It’s a high-pressure job,” Doughty said. “I’m tired of being a director.”

The Doughtys plan a cross-country road trip with stops in Yosemite, Colorado and the Blue Ridge Mountains in Tennessee, Doughty said.

Doughty is the fifth high-level district administrator to resign or retire since July, but he said the leadership turnover did not impact his decision.

“The changes that occurred, whether it was with the human resources director, or assistant superintendent of instruction... I don’t work with them directly,” he said. “I work mostly with [assistant superintendent of business services] Dean West and [Supt.] Sherine Smith.”

Doughty provided the district with leadership and industry knowledge, West said in the news release.

“[Doughty] set a higher standard for landscaping,” West said. “He recaptured and renovated a space for our cafeteria at Thurston Middle School that is a fresh and inviting venue to serve appealing offerings. Ted has led our emergency-preparedness operations by coordinating with law enforcement, evaluating each site, making revisions to policies and practices, and adding enhanced safeguards at each site.”

Smith said Doughty told her earlier this month that he would be leaving.

“I was surprised, but given his personal circumstances, I understand,” Smith said.

Doughty’s departure comes at a pivotal time for several facility projects, including the Laguna Beach High School tennis courts, which are cracked and in need of repair.

What type of repair will eventually be done is in question after a revised budget came in at about $480,000 more than the initial estimate.

The city and school district share use of the tennis courts, but the city cannot commit additional funding.

West has been working with Doughty on the courts and will assume oversight of the project, Smith said.

The district will begin to recruit for Doughty’s replacement in April and hopes to bring a candidate before the board for approval by late May for a mid-June start date.