Lakewood Ranch High School principal candidates address discipline, parents' concerns

Contenders for the Lakewood Ranch High School principal position turned their focus to discipline and other concerns parents voiced at a community forum July 2.

Craig Little and Dr. David Marshall — the candidates hoping to fill the office of former school principal Linda Nesselhauf — fielded questions from faculty members, students and their parents, while giving the audience a more detailed look at their ideas for the school.

Debbie Nevadomski voiced concerns to both candidates that her child has been approached with drugs on the school's campus.

"My child shouldn't be afraid to go to the bathroom, because he might get offered drugs," Nevadomski said. 

Little, Lakewood Ranch HIgh assistant principal, and Marshall, Horizons Academy assistant principal, laid out plans for a more strict East County high school, with more hallway and bathroom monitoring by administrative staff.

After each candidate's 30-minute presentation, forum attendees completed surveys on which individual they preferred to lead the school.

Executive Director of Secondary Schools Cynthia Saunders expects to have a recommendation by early next week. The Manatee County School District won't make an official decision until its next meeting, July 22.

Look for the extended story in the July 10 issue of The East County Observer.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].