BY ERIN WALDNER AND KEVIN PEARSON
Hemet Unified may be getting a new superintendent and Beaumont Unified losing one. The Hemet school board will hold a special meeting at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, to vote on hiring Barry Kayrell, who helms the Beaumont school district. “Nothing’s official until the board takes action,” Kayrell said Friday. His target start date in Hemet is Oct. 1. Kayrell, of Murrieta, just started his seventh year as superintendent of Beaumont Unified. As to why he decided to take the job in Hemet, Kayrell said, “I think it’s a tremendous opportunity.” He said that while he has mixed feelings about leaving Beaumont, he has always wanted to run a large schooldistrict in his career. Hemet Unified has about 20,000 students, compared to Beaumont’s 8,600. Kayrell will replace Steve Lowder, who abruptly departed Hemet in April to take a job in Stockton. Kayrell willreceive a 45-month contract that pays $205,000 annually. That’s the same amount Lowder was making, and a bit more than Kayrell’s Beaumont salary. Hemet school board President Bill Sanborn said Kayrell was the best choice of the four candidates who interviewed for the job. Sanborn cited Kayrell’s heavy involvement in the community and his eagerness to get involved at individual school sites. “He finished heads and shoulders above everyone else. It really wasn’t even close,” Sanborn said. “He’s the type of guy who will be around here for a lot of years.” Reflecting on his tenure in Beaumont, Kayrell said he is proudest of the district’s sustained academic growth the past seven years, which he stressed was a team effort. Susie Lara, president of the Beaumont school board, said she is sad to see Kayrell go because he has done a lot of good things for the district, but she understands he wants to go to a bigger district. She said the board is working on a plan to replace Kayrell. She, too, noted the Beaumont school district’s strong test scores and that the district has multiple award-winningschools. She said all of that was under Kayrell’s watch. Tuesday’s Hemet school board meeting will take place at 1791 W. Acacia Ave. Follow Erin Waldner on Twitter @PE_ErinWaldner and online at blog. pe.com/the-pass Follow Kevin Pearson on Twitter @pe_kevinpearson or online at blog. pe.com/Hemet