Court Dismisses Complaint Against Laguna Beach School Board

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A long-awaited ruling for the Laguna Beach Unified School District School Board was shared Wednesday by the district.

"The U.S. District Court dismissed a complaint brought by Laguna Beach Unified School District Board Member Dee Perry against Superintendent Jason Viloria and her fellow Board Members, Peggy Wolff, Carol Normandin, Jan Vickers, and James Kelly," a district spokesperson said.

According to the Court, the allegations in her complaint were "simply too conclusory."

Perry, board member and retired Laguna Beach teacher who taught for over 20 years, anticipated becoming the LBUSD School Board's next president. Instead, the board voted in favor of reinstating Jan Vickers to that role. Perry was the lone dissenting voice in that equation, a vote that passed 3-1. At that time, the board recommended changing the confusing bylaw, which led Perry to believe she should have been president by rotation.

The original bylaw stated:

"After serving one year as clerk, the elected member may serve one year as president of the board. The board intends that all board members will rotate through the sequence of clerk and president."

The word "may" caused confusion. The board voted to delete that line of text from the bylaws.

"We are pleased with the Court's determination and look forward to working together as a governing body of five on behalf of District students, especially during these challenging times," said Board President Peggy Wolff.

The Court has given Perry 30 days to amend her complaint.