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Garden Grove Unified begins school‑year meeting with condolences, introduces dozens of new administrators
Summary
The Garden Grove Unified School District opened its Aug. 4 board meeting with condolences for a deceased student and a groundskeeper, introduced a slate of newly assigned administrators and principals, and held a moment of silence before moving to regular business.
The Garden Grove Unified School District opened its Aug. 4 board meeting by announcing the deaths of Joel Lu, a fourth‑grade student at Carrillo Elementary School, and Chris Perry, a district lead groundskeeper, and holding a moment of silence. "We are deeply saddened to hear the passing of ... Joel Lu and ... Chris Perry," the meeting chair said.
After the condolence, Assistant Superintendent Lisa Swart introduced newly assigned elementary administrators and principals, listing their prior roles and new assignments across district schools. Dr. Stephanie Heflin presented secondary administrators and promoted several assistant principals and directors into new roles. Among administrators named were Esther Atherton (new principal, Skylark preschool), Kavehy Holomalia Gonzalez (principal, Parkview Elementary), Curtis Bruno (principal, Rancho Alamitos High School) and others appointed to lead elementary and secondary sites and district programs.
Trustees and staff used the introductions to welcome the new leaders ahead of the 2025–26 school year. The board noted the district kickoff event and a planned ribbon cutting for the district’s CTE program, and trustees offered public thanks for recent staff and community efforts supporting families during the summer.
The meeting then moved to routine consent and business items. The board adjourned following a series of votes approving personnel, contracts and program submissions.
The board said family members and district staff have been notified and supported; no additional details about the causes of death were provided during the meeting.
