Royal Oak's New Superintendent Ready to Dive into Community

It is official. Shawn Lewis-Lakin is the next Royal Oak superintendent.

“I’m excited to begin this partnership,” Lakin said at Thursday night's Board of Education meeting.

It wasn’t a surprise members of the school board unanimously approved hiring the district chief during its regular meeting. Last month, the board was unanimous in extending an offer to Lakin, who is leaving his post as superintendent of Manchester Community for the Royal Oak position. Details of his three-year annually renewable contract effective July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014 were finalized last week and board approval was the last step in completing the deal.

“We look forward to a long relationship (with Lakin) in Royal Oak,” board President Gary Briggs said.

Lakin, 51, will start with the district July 1, but is already acclimating nicely into the community.

He will make his first public appearance Sunday at the preview event at Emagine theater benefiting the  and the Royal Oak Foundation for Public Education. He also has already been working with a real estate agent as he and his wife look for a home in the community. Lakin sold his house six days after receiving the Royal Oak superintendent offer.

Lakin replaces Thomas Moline, who will retire effective June 30.

“I’m looking forward to what lies ahead as we work together on behalf of the students to really enhance the learning for all of our students and to really make royal oak a better place because the schools are meeting the needs of families and students,” Lakin said Thursday night. “And that’s what were going to be about.”

The search process began April 1 when the names of the five interview candidates were announced. The group was narrowed to two before Lakin was ultimately offered the job.