How Did We Get Here?

A Change.org petition was created by a single senior 2026 parent as a tradition-based preference and was later presented as though it reflected the goodwill of the senior class and the community at large. 

The petition gained 1134 signors. It did NOT originate from a student-driven movement or a broad request from 2026 seniors, LBUSD families, nor the Laguna Beach community. Signors were not verified. 

The data provided to the School Board does NOT support that the community favored a graduation venue change away from Guyer Field, overlooking the ocean, to the Irvine Bowl, in the Canyon. 

On February 26, 2026, the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education voted to move the Class of 2026 graduation from Guyer Field to the Irvine Bowl based on information that was statistically incomplete, skewed, and not representative of the seniors, seniors' families, LBHS students/parents, or verified constituents of the City of Laguna Beach. 

The students, parents, and citizens of Laguna Beach respectfully request that the Board reverse  its February 26th, 2026 decision prior to the March 12, 2026 Board meeting and keep the Class of 2026 graduation at Guyer Field. 

Graduation is attended by seniors and their respective families. Tickets are only issued to the families of the graduating seniors. It is not a community event. Furthermore, graduation is not just a ceremony. It is the final moment students stand together in a place where they grew up and where they hold life-long memories. 

That place is GUYER FIELD.

WHY GUYER FIELD?

• Seniors sit elevated facing their families.
• Parents see their child's face, not the back of their head at the Irvine Bowl.
• Graduates and attendees look out to the ocean as they receive their diploma. 
• The sun sets over the Pacific during the ceremony. 
• Stadium lighting ensures visibility as evening falls.
• Post graduation photos are framed by horizon and light. 
• Easy access to reconvene post graduation for photos with family, friends, and classmates, in celebration.  
• Ample space for ADA attendees, elderly attendees (no steps nor inclines). 
• Forward visibility is even more important with the recent gown color change to all maroon. 

IRVINE BOWL CONCERNS:

• At the Irvine Bowl, Festival of the Arts will not be in session; but it will be in the construction process in preparation for the Arts summer opening. 
• Post graduation photos would be taken agains plywood booth structures used for art displays and concessions. 
• In a world where graduation images are shared instantly and preserved forever, the backdrop matters. 
• Graduates' faces will only be seen for a fleeting moment upon entrance, exit, and crossing the stage. 
• Graduates backs are seated in the audience with their backs to all of the families. 
• The tradition of the cap throw will be done with students' backs to their families. 
• The dim lighting is hardly conducive for photography. 
• Long, narrow lines of site will require the use of binoculars to even see students cross the stage, as suggested for the proper viewing of the Pageant of the Masters - held on the same stage. 
• Bottleneck exit makes reconvening very difficult. 

THE STUDENT DATA DOES NOT SUPPORT THE MOVE: 

• Only 107 of the 214 seniors in the Class of 2026 responded to the survey - reflecting only 50% participation. 
• Even within that limited participation, Guyer Field received the most student support. 
  • 47.1% voted to STAY at Guyer Field.
  • 46.2% voted for the venue change.
  • 50% of seniors did not participate. 
  • Students were NOT told directly that the survey would determine a permanent venue change. It was presented as feedback ONLY.
  • Students were NOT presented with balanced pros and cons nor context. 
  • Students were NOT presented with sufficient enough information to make an informed decision. 
  • This was NOT a clear student mandate. 

THE PETITION DOES NOT REPRESENT LAGUNA BEACH CONSTITUENTS. 

• The petition includes 1,134 signatures, BUT:
  • It is NOT limited to LBHS families.
  • It does NOT verify Laguna Beach residency. 
  • 35% of the votes came from zip codes outside even the three adjacent zip codes to the Laguna Beach school district.
  • 1,134 signatures represent roughly 5% of Laguna Beach's 22,500 residents. 
  • Even if every signature were from a resident, which is NOT verified, that would represent only 6% of adults. 
  • Graduation directly affects 214 senior families.  
• It is the duty of the School Board to prioritize the seniors and their respective families who will attend graduation - NOT alumni weighing in from afar, who do NOT currently have a student at LBUSD nor a senior in the Class of 2026. 

ACCESSIBILITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION MUST BE A PRIORITY. 

• Graduation is a school-sponsored event. As such, the District has a legal obligation to ensure that all venues are fully accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California accessibility standards. 
• While both venues may technically meet baseline requirements, practical accessibility matters. 
• At Guyer Field:
  • All seating is level and assigned, with no steep inclines. 
  • ADA seating allows for families to remain together.
  • Open field access supports safe navigation for ADA compliance. 
  • Stadium lighting greatly improves visibility and safety. 
• In contrast, the Irvine Bowl's steep stadium seating, extensive stairs, and terrain may present significant barriers for:  
  • Elderly family members.
  • Individuals using walkers, canes, crutches, or mobility aids. 
  • Guests with cardiac or respiratory conditions. 
  • Those recovering from temporary injuries.
  • Individuals with age-related mobility limitations. 
• Even if a venue meets minimum technical compliance, a location that effectively prevents family members from safely attending their child's graduation may raise serious concerns under state and federal disability access laws.
• Graduation should remove barriers, NOT create them. 
• The District must ensure that its decision does not have the practical effect of excluding or discouraging attendance by individuals with mobility-related disabilities or age-related limitations. 

RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF COMMUNITY FUNDS

Both venues are technically free facility spaces. 

The real costs involve:

• Technology
  • Audio/Visual
  • Live Streaming
  • Photography
  • Videography
  • Flowers

These costs exist regardless of venue. The real difference lies in added logistics. 

Moving to Irvine Bowl requires:

• Student bus rentals - 5 schools busses for Class of 2026 at approximately $100 PER HOUR PER BUS.
• Bus rental will require a MINIMUM of THREE HOURS of service at approximately $100 PER HOUR PER BUS. 
• Additional staffing, volunteers, police traffic control, and parking coordination.
• Potential vendor deposit LOSS due to late venue change.
• Cost to re-print ALL graduation invitations - as ALL invitations have ALREADY gone to print, have been printed, and distributed, ALL with the location of the graduation as GUYER FIELD. 
• Custodial obligations.

Guyer Field allows shared efficiencies and costs with Thurston Middle School graduation. If moved, the District risks losing those efficiencies and absorbing effectively two separate graduation infrastructures' costs. Financial decisions should reflect responsible stewardship of District and community resources.

A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT WORTH HONORING

GUYER FIELD recently underwent a $1.165 million dollar renovation. As the previous School Board President and current Board member, Dee Perry publically stated:

"This project is a thoughtful investment that will keep our kids active, our community connected, and enhance the health and wellness of our students and neighbors." 

Graduation should honor this investment. 

CAPACITY AND FLEXIBILITY

• Irvine Bowl is often promoted as 2,600 seats. Graduation configuration leaves approximately 2,384 seats, and includes standing room only sections.
• Guyer Field can grow and adjust according to class size. Seating layouts can be modified year to year. It is inherently flexible. 
• The only rental difference at Guyer Field is chair rental, which can be scaled as needed. 
• Irvine Bowl removes chair rental BUT introduces bus rentals and additional logistical costs that may equate to or exceed chair rentals.
• Capacity is about visibility, flexibility, and connection.

WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST IMMEDIATE RECONSIDERATION

• The February 26th, 2026 decision appears to have been made based on incomplete, unverified, and statistically unreliable data. A decision of this magnitude - impacting 214 graduating seniors and their families - warrants transparency, accurate representation, and meaningful stakeholder input. 
• We respectfully request that the Board reconsider this decision prior to March 12th, 2026 and prioritize:
  • The interests and expressed wishes of the 214 graduating seniors and future classes. 
  • LBHS and LBUSD families
  • Verified Laguna Beach constituents
  • Full ADA inclusion and practical accessibility
  • Responsible stewardship of public funds
  • Preservation of community investment

GRADUATION BELONGS TO THE STUDENTS OF LAGUNA BEACH.

It is a milestone rooted in place, community, and identity. Guyer Field - on their home campus, overlooking the ocean - represents more than a venue. It represents continuity, belonging, and a memory these students will carry for a lifetime.

We ask that this class be honored where it has grown, learned, and earned the right to graduate: on GUYER FIELD.