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Community members and staff urge transparency, local ties in Lakeside superintendent search
Summary
Residents, teachers and business owners at a Lakeside Union Elementary community input session said the district’s next superintendent should be community-oriented, transparent and pursue innovative programs such as career pathways. Speakers thanked current leader Dr. Taylor and noted the district has scheduled additional public input sessions.
Residents, teachers and local business owners gave brief public comments at a Lakeside Union Elementary School District community input session about priorities for the district’s next superintendent, emphasizing local knowledge, transparency and new programming.
Speakers said the district should seek a superintendent who understands Lakeside’s culture and can engage families, staff and local businesses. “I just wanna thank Doctor Taylor for everything she's done for us. She's just been an amazing superintendent, and it's gonna be very difficult to fill her shoes,” said Kathy Castle, a Lakeside resident and grandparent. Castle also urged the district to pursue career-pathway programs to attract and retain students.
“In no particular order, I want transparency. I want community oriented. I want somebody who understands the culture of Lakeside,” said Frank Hillhart, a local business owner who described longstanding ties between his business and the district’s programs. Several speakers said innovation — including expanded career pathways — helped bring students to the district in the past and should be a hiring priority going forward.
Carrie Strong, president of the Lakeside Teacher Association, thanked trustees for opening multiple chances for staff and community to give input and noted the district's survey of staff opinions. “I appreciate that you sent out a survey to collect that information from them. That's really important to each member,” Strong said.
Speakers and the board reiterated the format for public comment: four minutes per speaker. During the session a response indicated the superintendent job posting is already public; the transcript does not identify who provided that confirmation. The board’s facilitator said this was the first of three public input sessions; the district announced two more: the next session at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow at Lakeside Middle School and a third at 6:00 p.m. the following Monday at the district office.
After the public comment period the board announced it would move into closed-session work to continue personnel and search-related business.
The session focused on community priorities for the search and did not include a formal vote or candidate decision.
