Parents urge renewal of school bond; district, city officials explain funding and enrollment trends

Residents and community groups used the joint meeting to press the Laguna Beach School District and city for clarity on a potential renewal of the district’s expiring general obligation bond and to ask how declining enrollment affects school budgets.

Several speakers — including Ashley Brown, a PTA and School Power leader, and other parent and community representatives — urged the district to place a renewal of the current bond on the 2026 ballot to “unlock $80,000,000” for facilities improvements. Brown told officials that a renewal would be “just that, an extension of the current amount taxpayers pay” and said “we would see 0 additional dollars added to our current tax bills,” reflecting the public message that a bond renewal could be structured to continue existing tax rates rather than add new burden.

District and city responses District staff responded to public questions about funding. Jeff Dixon (district staff) clarified funding mechanics: “It is not based on enrollment. It is based, primarily, on the assessed valuation of the properties within the the district boundaries.” He said enrollment has declined from roughly 3,000 when he started in 2014 to about 2,400 currently, and the district’s current forecast shows stabilization near the 2,300–2,400 range.

Other public commenters raised governance and conduct concerns. Shaheen Shaikh Settle, president of Families Unified for Education Laguna, described alleged disruptive conduct by a board member at a PTA meeting and alleged surreptitious recording; the speaker asked the boards to expect civil and respectful conduct from elected officials.

Why it matters The district’s general obligation bond generates local funds for facilities that are also used by the community; bond renewal decisions affect ballot timing, voter outreach and the district’s capital plans. City staff clarified that the city does not route property-tax revenue to the district and that the two entities are legally separate; both officials noted the district’s reliance on assessed valuation rather than enrollment for local revenue.

Next steps and timing Speakers urged placing a renewal on the November 2026 ballot if the district chooses to proceed; city staff said the city currently has no bond plan for 2026 and is investigating other revenue options (e.g., a hotel bed tax or sales tax increase) for fire safety and other needs. The district said it would evaluate financing options; no formal action to place a bond on a ballot was taken at the joint meeting.

Ending District and city leaders said they will continue community outreach. The meeting record shows public interest in a bond renewal and requests for clarification about budgeting, enrollment trends and conduct by elected officials; no ballot measure was approved during the session.