LBUSD presents restorative-discipline approach as suspensions remain rare

Laguna Beach Unified School District officials outlined their restorative-discipline framework at the March 26 board meeting, stressing that removal from class is used only when safety requires it and that multiple alternatives are available to keep students in learning environments.

Dr. Michael Keller, the district director of social-emotional support, told trustees that the district had recorded 30 suspensions this school year and that roughly 95% of students are never suspended. "Our current suspension rate this year is 1% district wide," he said, adding that 24 students accounted for those suspensions and that 16.6% of suspended students had multiple suspensions.

Keller walked the board through the district approach: multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), restorative community circles and site-based student success panels that can substitute for suspension when appropriate. He also described the JADE program the district offers as an evidence-based, education-first option for students who violate substance policies.

Superintendent Jason Glass and Keller emphasized that state law and Education Code requirements still govern discipline. Keller cited mandatory thresholds that require suspension or expulsion in cases involving firearms, brandishing knives, sale of controlled substances or sexual assault; outside those categories, site teams should consider alternatives.

Trustees and several parents pressed for clarity about due process, record correction, and the practical consequences of suspensions for students. Trustee Howard Hills and legal staff discussed the records-amendment process under state law and the path for parents to seek review. Glass said parents may request record correction under the statute and that the superintendent will conduct an administrative review followed by a possible board appeal if unresolved.

Public commenters described instances where families felt the initial administrative decision did not reflect available evidence; one parent said an appeal to the superintendent resulted in reversal. Community members also asked the district to strengthen coordination with partner programs (for example, Boys & Girls Club) so staff across settings have consistent information to intervene earlier.

Keller said the district is expanding prevention and reentry work: conferences with parents, counseling, documented reentry plans and student monitoring. "Intervention is not the absence of discipline," he said. "It is how we work to support a student and prevent escalation."

The board did not take action on discipline policy at the March 26 meeting; trustees asked staff to continue outreach and to provide follow-up materials on due-process timelines and alternative programs.

Next steps: the district will continue to track suspension and reentry metrics, refine family outreach around alternatives to suspension, and present updated guidance to the board as part of the LCAP and ongoing policy work.