Laguna Beach Unified superintendent reaches settlement agreement with board to end his contract

Laguna Beach Unified Superintendent Jason Viloria will leave the district by the end December after nearly nine years of service.

On Nov.  21, the school board approved 5-0, in a closed session, to enter into a separation agreement with Viloria, who is being let go without cause. As part of that agreement, Viloria will receive 12 months of his salary, which, according to Transparent California, was $341,988 in 2022. An interim superintendent is still to be selected.

Newly elected school board members will be seated Dec. 16, and that new board will determine the next steps for a successor, school officials said.

Board President Jan Vickers said the action taken was not reflective of Viloria’s performance, but instead was made in the “best interests of the district,” as the final tally of votes from the November school board election “shows anticipated changes in the governing board, which will likely influence the district’s direction and priorities moving forward.”

According to unofficial election results, Vickers, who was first a board trustee from 1981 to 1987, appears to have lost her bid for a sixth term. The other incumbent completing her term, Kelly Osborne, did not run again. Newcomers Sheri Morgan and Howard Hills are set to take their seats next month.

Hills had three previous runs in his bid for the school board, and Morgan, an active watchdog of the board who has been involved in the district in varying capacities over the years, also previously ran in 2020. Both ran campaigns pushing for renewal and transparency.

Hills, who previously worked in transitions in the federal government, said he sees the transitionary period as a time for opportunities to get the public more involved in the search for a new superintendent.

“I advocated for positive change and a new beginning, he said. “But neither Sheri nor I campaigned to terminate the superintendent. This is not what we advocated for.”

Vickers said with the current board taking action now, it minimizes disruption to classrooms and students while preserving district resources and staff focus, creating space for the incoming board to select leadership that aligns with its vision for the district’s future.

“(Viloria’s) leadership has been instrumental in advancing our district to its current position as the best in Orange County and has set the stage for continued growth and progress,” she said.

Viloria, who has been with the district since 2016, focused on advancing college and career readiness and establishing social and emotional support systems that equipped students with the skills and competencies necessary for success in the real world, said Anakaren Ureno, the district spokesperson.

“Leading LBUSD has been one of the greatest honors of my career, and the experiences I’ve shared with our students, families and staff will remain close to my heart,” Viloria said in a letter he sent to district parents last week. “Thank you for your trust, your partnership and your commitment to our students. I leave this role with immense pride in what we have built together and with great confidence in the district’s continued success. It has been a privilege to serve this extraordinary community.”

When reached through a district spokesperson during this week’s holiday break, Viloria said he had family commitments and chose not to comment further.

In his letter to the school community, Viloria was thankful for his time at the district.

“Together, we have created what can rightfully be called the best public education system in the county – one that ensures our students excel academically and prioritizes their social and emotional well-being as an essential measure of success,” he wrote. “Having reached this pinnacle makes my decision to step aside at this time incredibly difficult, though I do so knowing that LBUSD is in an excellent position to embrace a new chapter.”

Certified election results are due to the secretary of state’s office on Dec. 3. As of Tuesday night, about 12,600 votes are left to count in Orange County and Vickers trailed Hills by more than 200 votes.