The Las Lomitas Elementary School District Board of Trustees unanimously selected Erik Burmeister as the district’s new superintendent this week. The district will officially appoint him at their April 16 board meeting, and he is anticipated to begin May 1.
Burmeister will replace interim Superintendent Valerie Park following a tumultuous year at the district. In October, failed salary negotiations led to a three-day teacher strike and a petition calling for then-Superintendent Beth Polito’s resignation. Polito then announced plans to retire in August 2025, but went on leave in January after a November public records request revealed that she was mishandling public funds.
“The past two years have tested us as a district and community. We have faced difficult negotiations, financial strain, and fraying trust that has been painful and has divided the community,” LLESD Board President Paige Winikoff wrote in an announcement on Monday. “We are deeply grateful for your commitment to our community, and we want you to know how much we value your partnership as we move forward.”
Until 2022, Burmeister worked at the Menlo Park City School District for 12 years in multiple positions, including Hillview Middle School principal and district superintendent.
After spending time as an educational coach and consultant, Burmeister was hired as superintendent of the Fremont Unified School District in July 2024. In February, however, Burmeister announced his resignation from FUSD.
FUSD contains 41 K-12 schools and serves over 32,000 students, while LLESD has two schools and serves around 1,200 students.
“Erik’s seasoned leadership, history of successful student outcomes, and deep knowledge of our community come at a critical point in Las Lomitas’s journey,” Winikoff wrote.
