Katzenberger elected board president; Shaughnessy chosen vice president at Lakewood Board organizational meeting

The Lakewood Board of Education elected Nora Katzenberger president and Betsy Shaughnessy vice president during its organizational meeting Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.

The nominations were moved and seconded, and Treasurer Kent Zeman conducted roll-call votes. Roll call recorded ayes from Ms. Callahan, Ms. Katzenberger, Ms. Shaughnessy, Ms. Dotman and Ms. Clark Sutton; the motion carried and Katzenberger was sworn in as president. Shaughnessy was elected vice president in a subsequent roll-call vote with the same affirmative responses.

The board also appointed committee chairs and co-chairs for 2025. Colleen Clark Sutton will chair finance with Betsy Shaughnessy as co-chair. Mr. Callahan and Clark Sutton were named for building sites and major purchases; Dotman and Callahan for education; Shaughnessy and Dotman for human resources and community services; and Katzenberger and Shaughnessy for policy.

Board members approved a motion setting the time and place for regular meetings and passed a motion “to provide for the expeditious transaction of the business of the Board of Education of the Lakewood City School District during 2025.” Treasurer Zeman conducted the roll call on those administrative motions.

Outgoing board president Mike Callahan delivered a brief farewell, thanking voters and colleagues and noting the board’s work with the city on the former Lakewood Hospital site and the ongoing facilities task force. Katzenberger, in her first remarks as president, thanked the board and district leaders and highlighted the superintendent and treasurer for district leadership.

The board adjourned the organizational session and proceeded to its regular meeting later that evening.