Joan Malczewski: Laguna Beach School Board Candidate 2026

I am running for re-election because I care deeply about public education, our students, and our community. As an LBUSD parent, I have a personal stake in the continued excellence of our schools. I bring thirty years of experience in education as a professor, researcher, teacher educator, and administrator, as well as financial experience as a former CPA and the practical experience of serving on the LBUSD Board. I understand what makes excellent schools work, the responsibility of governing them well, and the importance of building the trust and collaboration that strong schools require.

My three priorities are rebuilding trust and collaboration with teachers, staff, and families; strengthening a culture of reading; and ensuring thoughtful use of instructional technology.

I will work to strengthen those relationships and support transparent, collaborative decision-making. I will continue advocating for a culture of reading and deep learning. Our students are highly literate, but sustained opportunities for reading and writing in the curriculum will help students to develop skills that support achievement across disciplines and prepare them to engage thoughtfully in their communities.

Finally, I want LBUSD to lead in the thoughtful use of technology and artificial intelligence. Decisions about technology should begin with what we want students to learn and proceed to discussions about how technology can enhance rather than replace methods for teaching.

Progress should be reflected in stronger relationships with our educators and community, continued strong academic performance, increased opportunities for sustained reading and writing, and clear, evidence-based practices for instructional technology.

I voted no on the motion to enter into a separation agreement with Dr. Jason Glass and on the subsequent motion to appoint Dr. Don Austin.

I voted against the separation agreement with Dr. Jason Glass and against the subsequent appointment of Dr. Don Austin. Dr. Glass had been appointed unanimously just ten months earlier, and I did not believe there was a reason to enter into a separation agreement.

My vote regarding Dr. Austin reflected concerns about the process, not his qualifications. I was presented with a motion in closed session to appoint him but had no awareness that the board majority was in conversation with him. It is important that superintendent searches and appointments follow from a transparent, inclusive process that provides appropriate opportunities for Board and community input. That process is important for both building public trust and giving a new superintendent the strongest possible foundation for success.

Dr. Austin is an experienced and knowledgeable educator, and I am committed to supporting him and working collaboratively to ensure his success in LBUSD. Our students and staff deserve a stable, effective district leadership team.

If voters approve Measure A, the district will be able to upgrade and modernize school facilities to support current and future instructional needs. Projects identified through the Facilities Master Plan include improvements to health and safety, accessibility for students with disabilities, wildfire protection, and facilities that support high-quality teaching and learning. Bond projects that harden buildings with fire-resistant materials are of particular interest with all Laguna schools in a very high wildfire zone.

Bond funds should be spent only on voter-approved purposes and subject to strong fiscal controls, regular public reporting, independent audits, and oversight by the required citizens’ independent oversight committee. Projects should be prioritized through the Facilities Master Plan, with the district remaining accountable to taxpayers throughout the life of the bond. I appreciate the taxpayer safeguards included: bond funds can only be used for facilities, must remain in local Laguna Beach schools, and cannot be taken by the state or used for salaries or pensions.

I personally support Measure A for two reasons. The last bond measure from 2001 is about to expire, so the proposed measure will simply extend—but not raise—my existing tax rate. I support it because I want every Laguna Beach student to attend a safe, modern school.

Laguna Beach has an excellent school district and a strong foundation for future success. Maintaining that excellence requires continuous improvement and attention to the changing needs of students. I remain focused on academic excellence for every student, student health and wellness, clear and transparent approaches to discipline and bullying, and thoughtful policies for instructional technology.

Two areas where I would like to see continued progress are reading and instructional technology. I have advocated for a stronger culture of sustained reading and writing because those skills support learning across disciplines. I also believe technology, including artificial intelligence, should be used when it advances clearly defined learning objectives, with appropriate attention to screen time and student well-being.

I will continue to support strong mental health and wellness programs, effective special education services, and fair, transparent approaches to bullying and student discipline. In an excellent district, the goal should not be to wait for something to fail, but to continually evaluate what we are doing and look for opportunities to improve.

The Board is responsible for setting policy, establishing priorities, providing fiscal and educational oversight, and holding the superintendent accountable for the district’s performance. The superintendent and professional staff should have the authority to manage the day-to-day operations of the district and implement those policies.

Productive governance requires trust, collaboration, transparency, and respect for professional expertise. I will support open decision-making, compliance with governance and transparency requirements, clear communication with the community, and a collaborative working relationship among the Board, superintendent, teachers, staff, and families. Strong governance creates the conditions that allow educators to focus on what matters most: student success.

Good governance requires both independent judgment and collaboration. I approach decisions by listening carefully, asking questions, considering evidence, and respecting the expertise and perspectives of others. Collaboration does not require agreement, but it does require respectful discussion, transparency, and a willingness to work toward shared goals.

My decisions will remain grounded in what I believe best serves students and the educational mission of the district. I will work constructively with fellow Board members, educators, parents, and community organizations to build trust, find common ground, and support the continued excellence of our schools.