Laguna Beach USD board votes to move non‑agenda public comment to start of meetings
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Summary
After debate about transparency and community feedback, the Laguna Beach Unified School District board voted to place non‑agenda public comment at the start of meetings on a trial basis; trustees said they will revisit the change in January.
The Laguna Beach Unified School District board voted to move non‑agenda public comment to the beginning of its meetings after trustees debated the change and cited widespread community feedback.
Member Kelly proposed placing open comment at the start to increase transparency, saying the move responded to community requests. Doctor Glass recommended a clearer recognition procedure for members to speak and vote in sequence. Trustee Howard (speaking during the discussion) and other trustees said they had seen both formats in other districts and supported trying the change temporarily to see how the public reacted.
Opponents and some trustees said they were concerned about how the change might be perceived. Member Malcheski said “the community has heard that you don't wanna hear their voice.” Supporters countered that many incoming comments were similar and that trying a different order was not intended to silence speakers; one trustee said they had read the emails and respected the concerns.
The presiding officer called the motion and the board approved it with multiple 'Aye' responses. Trustees said the practice would be revisited in January.
The change applies to non‑agenda items only; trustees emphasized public input on agenda items remains allowed. The board did not specify any changes to time limits or the public comment form; such operational details were not stated in the meeting record.
