Beverly Hills Unified School District Trustee Russell Stuart used his remarks at the Oct. 27 board meeting to challenge a quote from board candidate Jackie Kruger that had appeared in the Wall Street Journal.

The Journal quoted Kruger saying, "When you're at rock bottom, there's only one place to go," according to a Beverly Hills Standard report published Oct. 28. Stuart took direct aim at that characterization during the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Board of Education's regular meeting, with the school board election approaching. Stuart founded the Beverly Hills Standard and holds a financial interest in its parent company, according to disclosures on the publication’s website.

Stuart opened by citing Kruger's line. He asked the student board member whether the student's final year at school felt like rock bottom. The student said no.

Stuart said he would pose the same question to the volleyball team and district administrators. He then urged the audience to think logically, describing community anger as driven by political and cultural differences.

He recalled advice from a mentor during an earlier City Council campaign: "You can talk about each other, but you never bash the city, because the city is the brand." Stuart applied that principle to the school district. "Well, BHUSD is our brand," he said.

Stuart argued that calling the district "rock bottom" insulted employees and students. He said the metrics he had seen were moving in the right direction. The Beverly Hills Standard described those as Stuart's characterizations.

"We are not at rock bottom," Stuart said, closing by criticizing those he said were spreading lies.

Separately, the board heard test score updates at its Oct. 13 meeting. Assistant Superintendent for Education Services Dustin Seemann reported an increase between 2024 and 2026 in BHUSD students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards. The data was based on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, Advanced Placement scores, college admissions data and SAT scores, the Beverly Hills Courier reported.

Stuart's full remarks can be viewed in the Oct. 27 meeting recording on BHUSD TV.