SOUNDING OFF:School district did not bring MTV to Laguna

As the former Laguna Beach Unified School District assistant superintendent involved in the discussions with MTV to film a docudrama more than two years ago, I believe I am the most qualified voice to put this “story” to rest. Here are the real facts.

MTV’s executive producer, Adam Devillo, approached the former Laguna Beach High School principal [Nancy Blade] and me to determine the district’s interest in collaborating on a show about Laguna Beach High School students. Devillo’s words were: “We would love to work with the school district but either way, we will move forward with ‘a’ show.”

Our discussion with MTV, then, continued. As we moved along in the process, it was apparent that it was in the school district’s best interest to, at the very least, consider collaboration.

Draft contract language was constructed, with very explicit final editing rights in the hands of Laguna Beach district staff in an attempt to protect our students.

The district-MTV show would have focused on students’ academic pursuits and the respective struggles. The content would have been controlled by the school district.

In retrospect, I am convinced that this show would have never been green-lighted by MTV top brass or that this show would have been canceled after a single season.

The Laguna Beach Unified School District conducted more than its due diligence in considering this partnership. In the end, the Laguna Beach Board of Education declined any relationship with MTV. Thus, the original show that MTV had intended to create is alive and well today outside of the school district’s editorial rights. Again, this is the show that MTV originally wanted to air.

Laguna Beach Unified School District did not bring MTV to Laguna Beach. District staff and the Board of Education made every attempt to consider all options.

No one will ever understand that the MTV show the district considered screening never did come to fruition.

I can only imagine the criticism that the district would have received if it were determined that district staff was approached by MTV with a promise of complete censorship authority and district staff declined to consider the offer.

It’s time that the hoopla over MTV is put to rest. In the words of our students, “Don’t blame the player; blame the game.”