Long Beach Unified School District says it has wrapped up its investigations into allegations of racism and retaliation at Lakewood High and concluded that most of the complaints could not be proven. The district is refusing to release the investigators' written reports, citing employee confidentiality, a move that parents and students say leaves them in the dark. Some families who pushed for answers now say they are preparing to leave the district altogether.
District Says Most Complaints Were Unfounded
In written responses to public records requests, LBUSD told reporters that the "majority of the complaint(s) were not substantiated" and that a probe into the head counselor resulted only in "limited findings related to professionalism." According to the district, those issues were addressed through non-disciplinary corrective guidance. LBUSD said it remains "committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive school and work environment" but declined to turn over the investigative files, as reported by the Long Beach Post.
Former Counselor And Students Say They Were Targeted
Former Lakewood counselor Naazir Anyabwile says he was targeted after he refused to corroborate accusations against a Black co-worker and that his contract was not renewed after the 2024-25 school year. About a dozen students walked out of class last October in support of Anyabwile and later told community outlets that they felt intimidated by school administrators afterward. The Voice of Black Los Angeles reported on Anyabwile's account and the student demonstration, coverage that helped push the dispute into public view and highlighted broader worries about the campus climate for Black students and staff.
Transparency Questions And Records Law
The Post reports that it requested copies of the investigative reports and that LBUSD refused, citing employee privacy. The outlet also noted that parent Suzie Sanders shared records showing her daughter's complaint led to no substantiated findings and that her family now plans to move the student out of LBUSD for her senior year.
David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, told the Post that when a public agency finds that misconduct actually occurred, those records generally must be released under California law. That principle is also outlined in the First Amendment Coalition's California Public Records Act primer. See the First Amendment Coalition and the Long Beach Post for more.
District Policy And Local Context
LBUSD's written nondiscrimination policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment, and bullying and lists equity-compliance contacts along with procedures for filing complaints. District leaders have also pointed to initiatives such as a Center for Black Student Excellence and other supports as evidence of broader efforts to improve school climate, even as some families say campus-level problems persist. For the district's nondiscrimination information and contacts, see the LBUSD Lakewood nondiscrimination page.
What's Next
Parents and students say they plan to keep pressing the school board and other oversight bodies for clearer answers and independent reviews. Community advocates are also watching to see whether district-level programs translate into changes that students can feel on campus. For now, the fight over transparency and accountability at Lakewood High is unresolved as the new school year moves forward.
