Schools candidate Gibson wants more visibility for board, more public involvement

Annette Gibson has never run for office, but she’s touting big ideas for the Laguna Beach Unified School District in her campaign for a seat on the school board.

If elected Nov. 4, Gibson said, one of her biggest priorities will be updating the way school board meetings are documented and made accessible to encourage more public involvement.

“They’re not having board meetings when people can go and attend them,” said Gibson, 48, of Crystal Cove. “They do it at 9 in the morning, and we can’t always do that as a parent.… They do a recording, but it’s really horrible technology.”

The board has held some special meetings at 9 a.m., but most regular meetings begin at 6 p.m.

Gibson said that within her first year, she wants board meetings to be available online via podcasts, like most city council meetings are offered.

She said she also hopes to change the culture at board meetings. For the most part, she believes, board members have paid no attention to public opinion.

“They have people come and fill out a card, and you can ask a question, but do they really take you seriously?” Gibson asked.

Gibson said she also is concerned about district spending.

“I want to be a servant, basically, to the taxpayer. I want to be a watchdog,” said Gibson.

The registered nurse and mother of three says the Laguna Beach school district is selling itself short in resources and funding.

“People want Laguna Beach to continue to be a small, little artsy town, and … I always wondered why all those kids are going to [Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana],” Gibson said.

“Laguna Beach should have one those schools of the arts. We lose some of those kids. There is enough funds in Laguna that these things can happen — not in a year, but I think they can work on it.”

Gibson sends her three children to private Christian schools, mainly for personal reasons, she said, but academic performance also is a factor.

Laguna Beach Unified shares “how many [students] graduate, but they don’t tell you where the kids are going to college,” Gibson said. Private schools do, she said, and she wants to bring a similar system to Laguna Beach.