Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Sheri Morgan
Current job title: Parent/Business owner
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Laguna Beach
Campaign website or social media:http://www.votesherimorgan.com
Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for heavier restrictions on smartphones in schools, pointing to studies that show the harmful effects of social media. How do you see schools restricting smartphone use? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Restricting cell phone use in schools is long overdue. Strong guidelines are critical if we, as a community are prioritizing learning development and overall well-being of children and young adults.
Smartphone use has been integrated into classroom teaching in many secondary classrooms and computers access texts, social media and websites already; therefore, behavior modifications are needed with a consistent and disciplined approach.
Universal policies implemented at all levels, across the district or varying slightly from elementary to secondary, would be crucial to success. Classroom solutions, lockers, boxes, or locked bags could be considered, but banned during class, and consistent and strict adherence to guidelines with appropriate consequences is critical in supporting teachers, staff, students and families on the pathway to success.
Lastly, like many student and educational issues, parental/guardian involvement is essential. A communications plan outlining the schools new policy, support programs to ensure its success, and clear and concise disciplinary measures if violated, will be central to helping parents support an effort to ban cell phones. Similar to a public relations campaign or mass marketing effort, universal support in the classroom, and at home, will have a significant impact on the success of the efforts.
How can your district better harness artificial intelligence technology for learning while also protecting kids from another tool that can be used for bullying? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
In Laguna Beach, artificial intelligence could be very useful in student learning in our high school administration by creating a master schedule that is data-driven, with enrollment and salaries, including incentivizing teachers and students to consider alternative time slots such as the return of optional zero period or after-school options. Advanced students often forgo optional classes due to limited AP offerings, forcing a choice between an academic or chosen class of interest which impacts students’ course rigor and potential future educational field of interest such as art or multimedia but also mental and social health.
Creating advanced tutorial programs for AP classes would provide individual support for learners and could enhance our students’ AP outcomes without the added costs of AP prep classes that most students currently take to ensure a positive outcome in their test results.
Contrarily, we need to regularly evaluate our security policies and educate our community on the risks and harms of AI as it lacks emotion and empathy similar to social media concerns at its inception. The safeguards don’t exist to block or limit its use so educating users is key as we launch into this new frontier.
What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Laguna Beach Unified School District’s top two needs are better governance and accountability. In a Basic Aid district with 87% funding generated from property taxes in the last five years, administrative and staff support costs have risen 55% while enrollment has declined 21%
Regardless, our district, with school board majority support, proposed a $150 million Facilities Master Plan redevelopment of four neighborhood blocks, including a pool renovation, all out of scale with neighborhood surroundings and enrollment projections. Residents largely opposed the plan, yet, the board pushed a modified $100 million plan through, including accelerating a pool modification with funds from the general fund without community support.
Accountability. The current board president’s (and incumbent) term spans 36 years, has been board president for six of the last 10 years, allowing board-approved policy that created a self-proclaimed “weak board.” District administration pushes agenda without board awareness, including diminishing student programs and support amid rising administration and staff salaries and facilities development.
Policy reform is a top priority. A new board majority will return oversight, accountability and leadership to the board. Transparent reporting and open lines of communication between the board, community stakeholders and staff will support the vision Laguna Beach stakeholders have for public education.
What experiences and priorities do you bring to the table for this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that make you the person for this job? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I bring 26 years of parenting experience, and 21 years of district experience, taking our four kids through three of our four schools and into college at all levels. With one still in high school and two out of college, I have first-hand knowledge of families’ experiences. I’ve worked as a classroom and PTA volunteer, including LBHS PTA president, for over 14 years involved with our school board and district committees both appointed and elected, working with teachers and district administration. I’ve been elected to our Local Control Accountability Plan committee at the site and district level. I’ve attended policy workshops and spent many hours studying education codes and how they drive board and administration decisions.
While I am familiar with how our education system works, I am not from the education system, bringing a fresh perspective to the board currently comprised of all educators which is reflective of the 55% increase in salaries amidst the 21% enrollment decline.
I am a parent and business owner. I have also been a Girl Scout leader and am a parent of four very different students which gave me a first-hand look of the various needs our students had going through our system.
California has a new law, set to go into effect in 2025, that prohibits districts from enforcing what’s been called parental notification policies, rules for school employees to contact parents if their child may be changing their gender identity. What do you see as the role of parents in education? Is there a limitation? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
As a parent of four, I have first-hand experience that school involvement allowed relationship building with site level and district staff, providing me the opportunity to better understand my students’ learning, their needs and how to support them. I met their friends and parents and invested in our education system. Staff knew my students, empowering them to better support my students’ learning styles and personalities, creating the bond benefitting a stronger learning environment, and facilitating the journey of school and all the nuances along the way.
Years of research have proven that parent involvement, engagement and communications at all levels have a positive impact on students, resulting in better social-emotional outcomes, improved student achievement, and motivation.
Not every student’s environment has involved or supportive parents, and protecting these students is crucial. Opponents of the law hopefully come to realize it’s to protect the most vulnerable. Support programs, resources and communications could provide information to minimize concerns.
There should be limits to parental involvement when it comes to teaching; it’s a skill set like any other career, but parents’ knowledge and varied perspectives can add value to our district and education that isn’t appreciated enough, and bringing that into focus is overdue.
What role do you see your district playing in combating climate change? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
The Laguna Beach District has begun work on mitigating its environmental impact through energy audits and subsequent suggestions on lighting upgrades, water heater replacements, EV charging stations and HVAC replacements to higher efficiency units, window treatments, fans, and wall and roof upgrades. At an estimated cost of $20 million, the district would reach 96% of its goal by 2030.
However, the Facilities Master Plan’s pool renovation includes demolishing many existing buildings and decks, creating tons of concrete, debris, dust, air and noise pollution. Modifying the plan to utilize existing buildings saves an estimated $8 million, according to “Sensible Laguna” studies. A 40-meter pool saves on evaporation and energy costs from heating, lighting, and facilities operations. Suggestions ignored by current board and administration leadership.
The district website lists sustainability goals including outdoor learning spaces. The elementary programs have gardens, and middle and high schools are non-existent. STEM is an important pathway. Improving academic access within the district for secondary students and creating outdoor educational opportunities expands teaching and learning options dramatically, expands community partnerships and exposes students to career pathway ideas preparing them for real-world experiences. We have abundant funding; it’s time to use it on our students rather than administration salaries.
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