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Laguna Beach USD appoints interim superintendent and votes 3–2 to name Don Austin as next superintendent
Summary
At a May 14 special meeting, the Laguna Beach Unified School District board reported out two closed-session appointments: a unanimous appointment of Manoj Rocha Rochaudhary as interim superintendent effective immediately, and a 3–2 vote to appoint Don Austin as superintendent effective July 1, 2026; employment agreements will be agendized June 4.
The Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education reported out on two superintendent appointments after a May 14 closed session at a special meeting.
By a 5–0 vote in closed session, the board announced it had appointed Manoj Rocha Rochaudhary to serve as the district’s interim superintendent effective immediately. The board said an interim superintendent employment agreement will be agendized, considered and voted on at the regular meeting on June 4, 2026.
The board also reported that it had appointed Don Austin to serve as the district superintendent effective July 1, 2026. The appointment was approved in closed session by a 3–2 vote. President Morgan said members Perry, Hills and Morgan voted to approve the appointment while members Malcheski and Kelly opposed it.
President Morgan said the motions in closed session were made by Member Hills and seconded by Member Perry. The board announced no employment agreements were finalized during closed session; as required by law, any employment agreements will be considered in open session on June 4.
The appointments came amid a period of public comment earlier in the meeting criticizing the board’s handling of superintendent matters. The board moved its closed session timing and then recessed to reconvene at 6:00 p.m. for its regular meeting, where the employment agreements will be placed on the agenda.
Next steps: the board will place both the interim superintendent employment agreement and the superintendent employment agreement on the June 4 open-session agenda for consideration and a public vote.
