Lakeland School Board discussion tonight

Proposed changes to a Lakeland Joint School District policy could place tighter restrictions on future superintendents while giving school board trustees more control.

Lisa Arnold — who worked as an educator and administrator in the district for more than three decades and served as superintendent for three years before an early retirement in 2025 — said she's not surprised current trustees would consider making such changes.

"They micromanage," Arnold said Tuesday. "That’s always been the way they do things."

Three weeks ago, Lakeland trustees unanimously voted to place the district's newest superintendent, Rusty Taylor, who was hired June 2025, on paid administrative leave for the rest of his contract. No details were given by the board about why this decision was made, other than "it was a bad fit."

Policy 1410 outlines the relationship between the superintendent and the school board. The history of the current policy on the district's website shows the policy was adopted Aug. 13, 2007, with no reported revisions.

If approved, language in the draft policy would give the board the power to dismiss superintendents and create policies. While the current policy states "the superintendent develops plans, programs and procedures needed to implement the policies and directs the district's day-to-day plans," the drafted updated version adds that the superintendent would direct operations and develop the plans, programs and procedures "as needed to implement adopted policies."

Proposed changes would also require superintendents to provide trustees with all documented and intentional communication with staff, parents, legal counsel, community or taxpayers.

A new section discusses the termination of a superintendent's employment, which would occur if: the superintendent intentionally misrepresents or doesn't clearly present information and findings "to ensure the trustees' votes align with the personal interests or opinion of the superintendent;" if the superintendent refuses to take board-directed action regarding policy implementation, plans, programs and procedures; or if the superintendent is found to be intentionally and repetitively insubordinate regarding trustees' requests for additional information.

These proposed policy changes were drafted at the April 6 meeting of the Lakeland School District Policy Committee. According to board minutes, in attendance were Lakeland School Board Chair Michelle Thompson, Vice Chair Ramona Grissom, Trustees David Quimby and Jeffrey Brodhead, Interim Superintendent Jake Massey, Lakeland High School principal's assistant Shannon LaFountaine, community member Christina Kinney and clerk of the board Sara Broderius. A YouTube video recording of the meeting does not have sound or a transcript "due to technical difficulties" and minutes to the meeting won't be posted until after tonight's meeting.

Attempts to reach Thompson were not returned. Grissom and Massey declined to give comments.

Arnold said this is a sad situation, especially as a $3 million-per-year, five-year plant facilities levy is on the horizon.

"I'm worried that people are going to vote 'no' because the board is such a mess," Arnold said. "That will have a negative effect on our kids.

"I hope people can make a distinction between the two things and keep them separate when they’re voting. That would be my hope."

The draft of proposed changes to Policy 1410 will be the last discussion item during the board's regular meeting at 6 tonight at the district office, 15506 N. Washington St., Rathdrum.