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Las Lomitas Elementary School District has a vacancy to fill. Board member Paige Winikoff said she’ll resign on July 15 because she’s moving out of the district.
Winikoff joined the board in 2022 to fill a two-year term and was elected for another two-year term in 2024. The board will appoint a new trustee to fill her seat for the final months of her term.
“Serving our community has been a profound honor, and I am incredibly proud of the significant, foundational accomplishments we achieved together to bring transparency and accountability to our schools,” said Winikoff to The Almanac in an email. “During my tenure, my focus remained entirely on delivering positive results for our students, families, and taxpayers.”
Her time on the board included navigating a three-day teacher strike in October 2024 and challenging the contract extension of former Superintendent Beth Polito. Controversies around the previous administrator came after an investigation by The Almanac found Polito was using taxpayer dollars for luxury hotel stays and at least $39,000 in food delivery and catering.
After Polito’s unexpected departure in January 2025, the board hired former Menlo Park City School District Superintendent Erik Burmeister to take over Las Lomitas.
Winikoff recognized Burmeister’s work in balancing the district budget, initiating design teams, appointing instructional coaches for English and math and hiring a director of teaching and learning.
“I step down knowing that our collective hard work has placed the district on a much stronger, more stable foundation for the future,” Winikoff said.
“While I will no longer serve as a trustee, I will continue to hold deep appreciation for this community and confidence in the district’s bright future,” she wrote in her resignation letter to the San Mateo County Office of Education.
The school district will be opening up applications for the vacant seat with plans to conduct public interviews on or before Aug. 26 to fulfill Winikoff’s remaining term through Dec. 11. The application packet is not available yet but questions about the board position can be sent to Burmeister at eburmeister@llesd.org.
Shouldn’t questions about the trustee appointment be directed to the Board President, not the Superintendent that the Board oversees?
Erik, you know I think highly of you, but this process and decision should be managed by the Board.