Arnold named Lakeland schools leader

RATHDRUM - Lisa Arnold was named the new superintendent for the Lakeland Joint School District. The district announced Monday that Arnold, Lakeland’s assistant district superintendent, accepted a three-year contract effective July 1.

Arnold will replace Becky Meyer who is leaving Lakeland June 30, to serve in Bonner County as the Lake Pend Oreille School District’s superintendent.

After being part of the Lakeland district for 31 years, Arnold is excited about taking on an even larger role in moving the school district forward.

“I’m focused on building trust with our community,” Arnold said. “Until recently the community has been very supportive. That has lessened over the years.”

With so many people new to the area, there seems to be a general lack of understanding of district operations, Arnold said. A pre-pandemic study showed that about 33% of those within the district have ties to the district’s schools. This leaves about 67% of community members who are not getting consistent information about what’s happening in the district. She plans to remedy this.

One of Arnold’s first moves will be to schedule regular monthly meet and greet sessions for the community. Arnold will be on hand with no agenda and no presentation. Instead these meetings will be an opportunity for community members to ask questions, and express concerns, she said.

“I feel like the only time we’re in front of our patrons is when we’re asking for something,” Arnold said. “I want to get back to the place where the community has a strong understanding of what we’re doing.”

Arnold also has plans to send mailers out communitywide five times yearly, in order to spread the word about district activity. One “year-at-a-glance” mailer will go out at the beginning of the school year as well as quarterly updates.

Arnold holds three degrees from the University of Idaho: a bachelor’s degree in elementary education; a master’s degree in administration and an education specialist degree. She has 12 years of elementary teaching experience within the Lakeland district, with three years served at John Brown and nine at Betty Kiefer Elementary. She was assistant principal for six years and principal for five years at Betty Keifer. For the past eight years, Arnold has served in her current position.

“We do our best work when we team with parents,” Arnold said. “I want to make sure that parents have a voice.”