The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Board names superintendent
Lewis-Lakin to succeed Oegema on July 1, ready to serve students
By Daniel Lai, Editor
PUBLISHED: June 14, 2007
With the lengthy and extensive search behind them, members of the Manchester Community Schools' Board of Education voted to approve the district's contract for a new superintendent Thursday.
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After a unanimous vote, the board officially approved the hiring of Shawn Lewis-Lakin, executive director for student performance at Chelsea School District.
"We had some good candidates who applied but I think we chose the best one," board treasurer Lyndon Uphaus, said. "We're anxious to get going with Shawn."
Uphaus said though there were several well-qualified candidates, Lewis-Lakin seemed to express the most outward enthusiasm for the job.
"To me, he seems to have a lot of passion for education and he is very interested in our school system," he said. "He has great interest in the school, you could tell just by the tone of his voice."
Lewis-Lakin said he both excited and grateful for the board's decision.
"I am humbled by the confidence the Board of Education has expressed in me through the selection process for the superintendent position," he said. "I am excited about working with the Board of Education and all staff members of the Manchester Community School District. I am especially excited about working with Manchester students, their families and the Manchester community."
Lewis-Lakin will replace outgoing superintendent David Oegema on July 1.
"I plan to be in my office in Manchester on July 2," he said. "I sincerely hope that school families and community members will stop by and introduce themselves to me over the summer months."
Uphaus said Lewis-Lakin has already begun spending time in the district with Oegema.
"... Will it take him awhile to get used to everything? Sure it will and we expect that," he said.
Board President Ron Ellison said he feels confident Lewis-Lakin will lead the school in a strong direction.
"I think Shawn is a good fit for what we need now and Oegema was a great choice for what we needed seven years ago," he said. "Back then our goals were different and I think Shawn is well equipped for the direction the school is heading toward."
Ellison said he is extremely satisfied with Oegema's leadership over the years.
"I think he did a great job with what he had to work with," he said.
Uphaus said he expects Lewis-Lakin will "hit the ground running" once he takes over in the summer.
"I'm sure he will assimilate quickly," he said.
As superintendent, Lewis-Lakin said he has several goals he hopes to accomplish in the coming year.
"All schools continue to face very serious financial challenges," he said. "We need to be as responsible as we can with the funds we receive from the state. We need to continue to work with our state representatives, urging them to deal with state budget reforms that address the state's structural deficit, and to act in ways that will address the burden placed on school systems for the ever increasing health care and retirement costs of employees."
Lewis-Lakin said the ultimate goal will be working toward building on the educational experiences of Manchester students.
"I believe that the goal of any school system is to provide an excellent educational experience for all students," he said. "An excellent education addresses the needs of the whole child, including the intellectual, creative, social and physical needs of the child. "Addressing the whole child requires a commitment from the whole community, including schools, families, community and religious groups and businesses. Working together, we can and will make a difference in the lives of children."
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