Teachers urge Laguna Beach Unified to name internal interim superintendent; board moves to closed session

Several Laguna Beach Unified School District teachers urged the Board of Education to appoint one of the district’s three assistant superintendents as interim superintendent and warned against selecting a current board member for the role, during public comment before a closed‑session appointment discussion.

“Appointing an interim superintendent who already understands the inner workings of our district ensures a smooth transition, continuity and leadership, and minimal disruption to ongoing initiatives,” said Lauren Anderson, a teacher at Thurston Middle School. Anderson asked the board to direct human resources to evaluate the three assistant superintendents as possible interim candidates.

Randy Stafford, a teacher of 19 years, also recommended an internal appointment. “I want to encourage you to elect an interim interim superintendent… choose 1 of our 3 outstanding assistant superintendents,” he said, adding that the district’s assistant superintendents already know “how to run the business of the schools.” Laura Silver, a 25‑plus year Thurston Middle School veteran, and April Kaufman, a teacher and parent, echoed those recommendations.

Commenters said appointing a board member as interim would be “unorthodox” and create conflicts of interest by dividing the board member’s responsibilities. “A school board member as an interim superintendent is not pragmatic. It’s a certain conflict of interest,” Laura Silver said.

At the start of the meeting the board also amended the agenda to correct a conference listing. The agenda item for a conference under item 10(j) was changed to “Educating for Careers 2025,” scheduled for March 2–4, 2025 in Sacramento, with a total cost listed as $23,100.

Following public comment the board voted to adjourn into closed session to consider the interim superintendent appointment and to meet with labor negotiators, citing California Government Code sections 54957 and 54957.6. The board chair called for the motion to go into closed session; a motion and a second were made and the board voted in favor.

No public action on the interim appointment was taken in open session; the board returned to closed session for deliberations on the interim superintendent appointment and labor negotiations.