Laguna Beach Unified Hires Private Detective to Go After Rule-Breaking Parents

The Laguna Beach Unified School District is currently investigating 20 families from its four school sites who are under suspicion of living outside of Laguna Beach and breaking district rules.

The district recently hired a private investigator to conduct residency checks, revealed Assistant Superintendent of Business Service Norma Shelton, a task formerly performed by school principals, assistant principals and the special education director.

“Some individuals go to great lengths to perpetuate the deception, and home visits, even multiple home visits, become necessary,” Shelton told Laguna Beach Patch. “This is not a good use of time for educational administrators, and we are better served with the task being performed by a professional on a contracted as-needed basis.”

The current contract is costing the district $4,500, but Shelton says that number is subject to rising with increased case loads.

Suspicious behaviors—including returned mail and sightings of bus stop drop-offs—are what she said prompted some of these investigations.

“After we have completed our investigation and have conclusive evidence that the students do not reside within our district boundaries, the parents or guardians will be informed in writing that they are to register their students in the school district where they actually reside,” Shelton said.

Ensuring that students enrolled in Laguna Beach schools actually reside within district boundaries is an important practice, because of the district’s funding model and limited facility space, Shelton explained.

“We are a Basic Aid district, which means that we are funded from the proceeds of our local property tax, and do not receive funding from the state. The vast majority of other public schools in California (Revenue Limit) districts receive their funding from the State on a per pupil basis.

“When someone falsifies their address and actually resides outside our school district boundaries, not only do we not receive revenue for those students, but their actual district of residence is deprived of the per pupil state aid.”

She went on to say that regardless of funding issues, students must abide by the education code, which states that students will attend school within the district they reside.

Shelton said this problem has existed for as long as she can remember, and believes it will continue to be an ongoing problem for the district.

“One of the reasons is that we have a well-deserved, excellent reputation,” she said. (Laguna Beach Unified was recently named by the Orange County Register as one of the top districts in Orange County.)

“But, throughout the years, there have been such a variety of reasons given by parents or guardians wishing us to make an exception for their children that I can’t say there is a ‘typical’ reason.” Many of these reasons involve personal family hardship issues.

No matter how compelling the stories, Shelton said, the district will continue to adhere to its policy.

“We will not make exceptions that could cause a possible liability issue for our district,” she said. “Period.”