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Community outlines priorities for next Lakeside Union Elementary superintendent
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Summary
Community members at a Lakeside Union Elementary School District input session urged classroom experience and special-education expertise for the next superintendent and debated whether the district should hire locally or from outside.
At a community input session hosted by the Lakeside Union Elementary School District, residents offered priorities for the district’s next superintendent, emphasizing classroom experience, special-education background and whether the district should hire a local candidate or an outsider.
The discussion matters because the superintendent will set districtwide priorities that affect teachers, students and families across the district, including special-education services that several speakers said need attention.
Resident Peggy McKay spoke first during the public comment period, and resident Peggy Ray said the next superintendent should have been “in the classroom” or an on-campus administrator so they can relate to teachers and administrators. Ray said it is important that the hiring panel “really investigates the person that has applied so that they hear from others, where they have worked” and that the panel “really listen to the former employees” rather than merely going through the motions. Ray also stressed special-education experience, noting she has grandchildren in elementary school and wants to see fewer instances of general-education students being removed from class to address behavioral issues.
Simeon Lau, who identified himself as CSCA president, said he hopes the district hires “a local person” who understands how Lakeside runs and is “labor friendly,” adding that strong trust between employees and administration matters. Lau said the district’s relationship with current administration has been better than in the past and that keeping employees satisfied is important to district success.
A separate commenter identified only as Steve argued against promoting only from inside the district, saying external candidates with chief executive or non-profit leadership experience can bring useful management skills. Steve said, “I don’t really think that you need to promote from within a school district” and warned that internal hires can have divided loyalties toward longtime colleagues.
Robin Ballerin, the meeting facilitator, and staff members Rachel Camarero (note taker) and Myrna (Spanish translator) were present for the session. Ballerin reminded attendees that a survey is available online and that this meeting was the second of three community input sessions; she announced a final session scheduled for Monday at 6:00 p.m. at the district office and encouraged people to complete the survey.
No formal actions or votes occurred during the session; the meeting was a public comment forum to collect community input for the superintendent search.
