Laguna Beach School Community Rallies Behind Teachers and Staff

Hundreds demonstrate at Main Beach to express discontent over relationship with school board

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:54am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeated pattern of a school supply item, such as a pencil or notebook, in a grid layout with overlapping neon colors and heavy black outlines, conveying the creative energy and collective voice of the Laguna Beach school community rally.A vibrant, pop art-inspired illustration captures the energy and community spirit behind the Laguna Beach school rally, where teachers, staff, and students united to advocate for transparency and open communication.Laguna Beach Today

A crowd of teachers, staff, and students from the Laguna Beach Unified School District gathered at Main Beach on Thursday to show support for local schools and voice concerns over their relationship with the school board. The rally, organized by the Laguna Beach Unified Faculty Association (LaBUFA) and the California School Employees Association (CSEA), comes in response to what union leaders describe as an erosion of trust and transparency, including disciplinary action against employees who speak up at school board meetings.

Why it matters

The rally highlights growing tensions between the school district's teachers and staff and the school board, reflecting broader challenges facing public education systems as they navigate issues of accountability, communication, and the balance between administrative authority and employee voice.

The details

According to organizers, recent actions by the school board, such as the decision to return the high school's graduation ceremony to the Irvine Bowl despite public testimony, have not reflected community input. The board also changed a bylaw to give the board president sole authority over setting the meeting agenda, which union leaders say has limited opportunities for student and staff concerns to be addressed.

  • The rally took place on Thursday, April 17, 2026.
  • In a February 12 meeting, the school board changed a bylaw to give the board president control over the meeting agenda.

The players

Laguna Beach Unified Faculty Association (LaBUFA)

The union representing teachers in the Laguna Beach Unified School District, which organized the rally along with the CSEA.

California School Employees Association (CSEA)

The union representing non-teaching staff in the Laguna Beach Unified School District, which organized the rally along with LaBUFA.

Sheri Morgan

The president of the Laguna Beach Unified School District's governing board, who has been criticized for her control over the meeting agenda.

Ivy Dabbs

A sophomore student at Laguna Beach High School who serves as a student board representative and dispelled any notion that students were coerced into participating in the rally.

Jason Glass

The superintendent of the Laguna Beach Unified School District, who declined to comment on the rally prior to the school board meeting.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“They moved public comment to the end of the meetings because they didn't want to hear people complaining about them.”

— Thasa Zuziak, Local chapter president of CSEA

“Only [Morgan] can put what she wants on the agenda. Our superintendent doesn't even know what goes on the agenda. [Morgan] can tell people, 'Nope, I'm not going to put it on the agenda.' She controls it 100%, so she puts what she wants on the agenda that meets her goals. We haven't had one thing on there for students in a year. It's all been grievances, and 'we need to change board bylaws.'”

— Thasa Zuziak, Local chapter president of CSEA

“They're constantly trying to reprimand us for freedom of speech. They're trying to silence us. We've always worked so well together as unions, and as a community and district in negotiations.”

— Scott Wittkop, President of LaBUFA

“None of us are being forced to be here. None of us are receiving extra credit for being here, and none of us are here for any other reason than to support our cause.”

— Ivy Dabbs, Student board representative

What’s next

The school board is expected to address the concerns raised by the rally at their next meeting, where they may discuss potential changes to the agenda-setting process and efforts to improve communication and transparency with the district's teachers, staff, and students.

The takeaway

This rally underscores the importance of maintaining strong, collaborative relationships between school districts, their employees, and the broader community. As public education faces increasing challenges, finding ways to balance administrative authority with employee voice and community input will be crucial for ensuring the best outcomes for students.