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LAKEPORT, Calif. – With the district superintendent expected to take a new job out of county, the Lakeport Unified School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously in a special Thursday night meeting to begin the process of recruiting her successor.
Erin Smith-Hagberg, Lakeport Unified’s superintendent for 12 and a half years, is expected to shortly finalize an offer to become the Calistoga Joint Unified School District superintendent.
Lakeport Unified Board President Dennis Darling called it a “once-in-a-lifetime, fabulous opportunity” for Smith-Hagberg, who has spent her entire educational career in the Lakeport Unified School District.
“Erin has served this district with great love and support for many, many years. I don't think any of us should begrudge her the opportunity to move on and better herself,” said Darling.
This year marks her 30th year in the district, where she worked first as a teacher and later entered the administrative level. She was Lakeport Elementary’s principal when she was hired as the district’s superintendent.
When she was hired, the district board did an internal recruitment only, as it knew that Smith-Hagberg was the person it wanted to be superintendent, Darling told Lake County News following the meeting,
“We knew then what we had and we know now what we’re losing,” Darling said.
During her tenure, Smith-Hagberg has successfully led the district through bond measures and building projects that are creating state-of-the-art learning facilities for the district’s six schools, which serve more than 1,500 students.
At Thursday night’s meeting, Smith-Hagberg also was lauded by district administrators for creating a sense of security for them and a professional, trusting atmosphere in which they can do their jobs.
If Smith-Hagberg’s offer from Calistoga Joint Unified is soon finalized, as it’s expected to be, she would leave at the end of the school year, June 30, when her contract ends, said Darling.
With that deadline looming, Darling began quickly moving the process forward to find her successor.
“This is, I think, an awkward situation,” said Darling, both for the board and for Smith-Hagberg, who hasn’t yet given formal notice of her resignation to Lakeport Unified.
He said he had known a little before his fellow board members about Smith-Hagberg’s potential new job and, as such, “I’m all the way through my five stages of grief.”
Darling said Smith-Hagberg has been a central part of the district for three decades years, and they will certainly miss her.
The main purpose in calling the special hour-long meeting was for the board to consider hiring a consultant to lead the hiring process.
Darling proposed hiring Scott Mahoney, a Windsor-based educational hiring consultant who himself began his career in Lake County. From 1983 to 1992, he served as principal at three local schools – Lower Lake Junior High, Oak Hill Middle School and Lower Lake Elementary.
Mahoney also is the consultant leading the superintendent hiring process for Calistoga Joint Unified, which Darling said Smith-Hagberg has reported to be “grueling.”
Both Darling and Board Clerk Phil Kirby, himself a retired school administrator and superintendent, know Mahoney and spoke confidently during the meeting of his abilities to lead a successful search for Smith-Hagberg’s successor.
“He's a person who knows our community,” and will know the available candidates, Darling said.
During the discussion, Darling also led the board through a timeline for the hiring process, which follows the structure commonly used for finding a superintendent.
However, Darling explained that Lakeport Unified’s timeline is more abbreviated. It proposes to have a final candidate ready for the board to accept at its May 11 meeting.
Despite that “condensed” schedule, Darling said Mahoney has told him that the district still has time to have a good, inclusive hiring process.
Darling said the process steps include a position announcement that’s expected to come out on March 27 in the Association of California School Administrators’ publication and on the EDJOIN national education job board.
At the end of March, the district also will begin holding meetings to solicit input from stakeholders – parents, teachers, administrators and community members, he said.
The timeline called for the board to approve a list of qualifications and attributes for a new superintendent at its April 13 meeting. Once the application deadline passes, there will then be a paper screening process by education professionals, an initial interview of about half a dozen candidates and a final interview of half that number before the board makes a decision. Darling said Mahoney also will do a thorough background check of the candidates.
Mahoney’s typical fee for such work is $14,500, but he has agreed to a fee of $10,000 for Lakeport Unified because it is doing a lot of work in the process. Darling said Mahoney also agreed to that fee because he knows Kirby is with the district and can assist in the work.
Darling said that fee is about half of what a larger search firm typically charges.
He said there are other search options, including the one that is currently under way in the Upper Lake Unified School District, which is recruiting a successor for longtime Superintendent Patrick Iaccino, who retires at the end of June. However, due to time constraints, Darling said he didn’t consider that option a good one for Lakeport Unified.
Darling then moved to discussing the type of recruitment process the district should follow – open or confidential.
In both methods, the board would pick a firm to conduct the search and stakeholder groups would be able to contribute input on professional qualifications and personal attributes for the ideal candidate.
From there, the two methods diverge significantly.
In the open method, the identities of candidates would not be protected during the hiring process, and stakeholder groups would be invited to interview the candidates. That’s the method Upper Lake Unified is following.
The confidential search would have the candidates being screened and taking part in confidential interviews conducted by the board of trustees alone.
Darling said Mahoney encouraged the district to pursue the confidential process, as it is likely to draw a more qualified pool of applicants, which is what he said the district wanted.
“I want to do this process as openly and as transparently as we can,” Darling said, added, “If we do it this way, we're going to get better applicants.”
The confidential route was a concern for the small group of the district’s teachers and administrators who were at the meeting.
Lakeport Elementary teacher Meg Harper said candidates the board interviews will meet the basic qualifications. “Then it's a gut-level pick,” she said, adding that it was unfortunate that the district’s staff couldn’t be part of that pick.
Rachel Paarsch, principal of Terrace Middle School, was unhappy about being excluded from the process due to concerns about having to work for someone she couldn’t trust, which is an experience she’s had before.
“I need you to hear what we're saying too,” she said, adding that Smith-Hagberg was the reason she had left her previous district to come and work for Lakeport Unified.
Clear Lake High School Assistant Principal Jennifer Scheel asked if the board will meet with teachers and principals to get their input.
Kirby said he would be happy to meet with staff at their school sites to get input prior to or during the hiring process. Board member Lori Holmes also suggested surveying the district’s administrators.
Darling assured the group that the board was committed to ensuring multiple opportunities for input. “Ultimately, it is the board’s responsibility to get it right,” he said of the hiring process.
Board member Tom Powers moved to enter the contract with Mahoney Consulting and have the district pursue the confidential hiring process option, with Holmes seconding and the board voting 5-0.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Thursday afternoon firefighters stopped a structure fire in Clearlake before it could spread to other buildings.
The fire in the 11100 block of Pioneer Drive was reported just before 2:45 p.m. Thursday.
Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta said firefighters arrived on scene to find a fully involved utility shop, with the fire threatening an adjacent home and another outbuilding.
He said the shop was filled with ammunition, reloading equipment, automotive parts and a car.
The fire was difficult to access and there was a limited water supply, according to reports from the scene.
Complicating matters further, the ammunition was going off as firefighters arrived, and then power lines fell at the scene, Sapeta said.
Sapeta said fire crews did a phenomenal job in keeping the fire from spreading.
Resources on scene from Lake County Fire included three engines, one water tender, two medic units and Sapeta, while Cal Fire and Northshore Fire each sent an engine, Sapeta said.
One person was at home at the time of the fire and was able to safely evacuate four dogs, two cats and two birds out of harm’s way, according to Sapeta.
The fire was contained shortly after 3:30 p.m., with units clearing the scene just before 6 p.m., Sapeta said.
Sapeta said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Millions of Americans – some Irish, some not – will take part in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations across the United States on Friday.
Congress proclaimed March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1991, and the president issues a proclamation commemorating the occasion each year.
Originally it was a religious holiday to honor St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who introduced Christianity to Emerald Isle in the fifth century. He died on March 17 around 460 AD.
St. Patrick’s Day has evolved over the centuries into a celebration of all things Irish.
The world’s first St. Patrick’s Day parade occurred on March 17, 1762, in New York City, featuring Irish soldiers serving in the English military. This parade became an annual event, with President Truman attending in 1948, according to a report from the US Census Bureau.
According to the US Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey 32.7 million or 10.2 percent of the United States population claimed Irish ancestry. That’s more than seven times the population of Ireland itself, which is 4.6 million.
That year the Census Bureau was estimated that 20,590 U.S. residents spoke Irish Gaelic.
Irish was the nation’s second-most frequently reported European ancestry, trailing German, the Census Bureau said.
Similarly, the 2015 American Community Survey showed that in Lake County, which that year had a total population of 64,591, German was the No. 1 ancestry group cited, at 7,074 residents, followed by Irish with 6,624 people.
Thanks to the interest in finding out more about Irish ancestors, there are many online resources for conducting genealogical searches, including www.ireland.com and www.irishgenealogy.ie .
The National Archives Web site, www.archives.gov/research/immigration/ , offers immigration records, with Irish ship passenger data available at http://aad.archives.gov/aad/fielded-search.jsp?dt=180&;cat=SB302&tf=F&bc=sb,sl .
Other Irish-related facts reported by the US Census Bureau:
– There are 15 places – incorporated places and census designated places – or county subdivisions in the United States that share the name of Ireland’s capital, Dublin. The most populous of these places in 2015 was Dublin, Calif., at 57,721.
– The number of foreign-born people in 2015 who reported Ireland as their birthplace totaled 120,144.
– The value of goods imported from Ireland in 2015 was $39 billion. Of that, the highest commodity category was pharmaceuticals and medicines at $25 billion.
– The value of U.S. imports of cabbage in 2015 totaled $133 million. Cabbage is a well-known culinary tradition in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
– The number of pounds of U.S. beef and cabbage production totaled 23.7 billion and 2.2 billion, respectively, in 2015. Corned beef and cabbage is a staple at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
St. Patrick’s Day is a national celebration that our country observes and many Californians will take part in the festivities with friends and family.
The California Highway Patrol wants to remind everyone to enjoy the party, but be safe.
Last year on St. Patrick’s Day, the CHP made 145 arrests statewide for driving under the influence. Tragically, that same day, three people were killed and nearly 60 people were injured statewide as a result of DUI collisions.
“We want everyone to enjoy the festivities and have a good time, but to do so responsibly. Ensuring safety on California’s roadways is everyone’s responsibility,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Remember to designate a sober driver before the party starts or make arrangements for a taxi or ride-sharing service.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that one person in the United States dies in an alcohol-related vehicle collision every 53 minutes. These deaths and damages contribute to a cost of $52 billion per year, NHTSA reports.
The CHP recommends these steps to avoid impaired driving:
– Designate a sober driver or have alternate transportation before you go out to drink.
– If you are hosting a party, serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages. Stop serving alcohol a few hours before the end of the party.
– If you see a friend who is too drunk to drive, take their keys and call them a cab or ride-share, or give them a ride home.
– If you see a suspected impaired driver, call 9-1-1. Your phone call may save someone’s life.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of safety, service and security to the people of California.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sierra Club Lake Group Executive Committee member Denise Rushing will share “permaculture” principles and practices that can keep us energized, sane and powerfully focused in these difficult political times on Wednesday, March 22.
The presentation will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Round Room at the Mendocino College Lake Center, 2565 Parallel Drive in Lakeport.
Discover ecosystem strategies developed over millennia by life on Planet Earth and how to apply these strategies to not only survive, but also to thrive in a hostile ecosystem, while transforming the system itself.
As always, the meeting is free and open to the public.
For more information contact Ed Robey at 707-994-8304 or
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.
Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.
LAKE COUNTY
Highway 20
– Emergency highway repairs at various locations from Bachelor Creek Bridge to Bruner Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Curb and sidewalk repairs from Sayre Avenue to Country Club Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Emergency highway repairs from Foothill Drive to Bruner Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
Highway 29
– Emergency culvert repairs from Spruce Grove Road to Hofacker Lane will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 175
– Emergency highway repairs from Grouss Springs Road to Emerford Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Emergency highway repairs from east of Arroyo Vista Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
MENDOCINO COUNTY
Highway 1
– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Ocean View Drive beginning Tuesday, March 21. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Emergency slide removal near Leggett will continue. A full road closure is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should seek an alternate route.
Highway 101
– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Emergency slide repairs on the westbound Route 20 to southbound Route 101 connector ramp will continue. Intermittent ramp closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Emergency slide removal near Hermitage Vista Point will continue. Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Emergency slide removal near the Dora Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays.
– Emergency slide removal near Piercy will continue. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
Highway 162
– Emergency storm damage repairs from the junction of Routes 101/162 to 1.8 miles west of Pookiny will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Emergency storm damage repairs near The Middle Way will continue. One-way traffic control with temporary stop signs will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 175
– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from the Russian River Bridge to the Lake/Mendocino County line beginning Monday, March 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.
For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).