LAKEWOOD — At an organizational meeting in January 2026, the Lakewood Board of Education elected Betsy Bergen Shaughnessy as board president and Lisa Dotman as vice president, approved committee assignments and meeting dates for the year, and adopted a routine resolution to authorize standard administrative actions for 2026.

Betsy Bergen Shaughnessy was nominated for president, the nomination was seconded and approved by roll call. Shaughnessy repeated the oath of office and took the chair. "I, Betsy Bergen Shaughnessy, do hereby solemnly swear…" she said during the oath. Lisa Dotman was nominated and elected vice president and also recited the oath of office.

The board also announced committee chair and co-chair assignments: Mr. Callahan will chair Finance with Mrs. Katzenberger as co-chair; Mrs. Clark Sutton will chair Building Sites and Major Purchases with Mrs. Dotman as co-chair; Education will be chaired by Mrs. Katzenberger with Mrs. Clark Sutton co-chair; Human Resources and Community Services will be chaired by Mrs. Stapman with Mr. Callahan as co-chair; policy will be chaired by the president with Mrs. Stapman as co-chair.

By roll call the board adopted a resolution setting regular meeting dates for 2026 (first and third Mondays, shifting in August to the second and fourth Mondays) and approved a separate resolution ‘‘to provide for the expeditious transaction of the business of the board of education of the Lakewood City School District during 2026.’’ That routine resolution affirmed memberships and authorizations commonly used by the district, including participation in athletic programs under the Ohio High School Athletic Association and membership in the Ohio School Boards Association, affirmation of the district’s policy manual, designation of the treasurer for public-records training, recognition of boosters/LREF/PTA, and retention of outside law firms as needed.

Outgoing board president Nora Katzenberger thanked the community for the opportunity to serve and reviewed highlights from 2025. "We wanna protect what we have here in Lakewood," she told the board, and cited the board’s October vote to reduce the number of elementary buildings to six and to establish an early childhood center as a major development from last year. Katzenberger also noted the district will have a levy on the ballot in 2026 and that Treasurer Kent (last name given only as Kent in the record) is retiring; the board has hired Megan Rohde as treasurer, who is scheduled to begin later in the month.

Incoming President Shaughnessy outlined priorities for 2026, including support for superintendent-led elementary transition teams, developing a comprehensive plan with opportunities for board and public comment, enhanced and timely communication with the community, ongoing policy review to align legal requirements and district values, close monitoring of finances and resources, and a continued focus on student achievement.

The organizational meeting concluded with a motion, second and unanimous voice vote to adjourn and take a brief break before beginning regular business items.