Note: This article has been updated since the print edition of the Event News to reflect action taken at yet another special meeting Monday, March 16, at which they hired a former Asst. Supt. as Interim Superintendent.
Anne Silavs, the embattled Superintendent of the Cypress Elementary School District is gone.
With a frustrated Board of Trustees asking pesky questions about why the district is more than $3 million in debt and for a full accounting of its non-education assets, Silavs announced her retirement last week in a message that even caught the Board of Trustees off guard.
“We knew she’s been talking about retiring, but we had no advance notice of the announcement,” said Board President Lydia Sondhi, Ph.D. Even then, Silavs’ announcement claimed she would retire at the end of the school year.
Courtesy photo
Sondhi announced this week that Silavs is already gone, leaving the board to working with others to find the vexing answers to accounting for the state of the of the district’s ailing finances.
In addition, the Board asked for a complete accounting of so-called “Fund 40,” an account with significant reserves derived for outside board investments.
With the 2025 retirement of long-time Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Dr. Tim McLellan, the district installed Larry Ferchaw as his replacement.
As the school administration seeks answers, they will now have to deal with two relatively new faces, as the board has named Dr. Tracy Mouren-Laurens as Interim Supt.
Sondhi made the announcement about Silavs’ departure and Mouren-Laurens at the board’s regular meeting March 12, saying the board had met in special session March 10.
“The board voted unanimously to accept Superintendent Anne Silavs’ request for early retirement effective March 10, 2026,” said Sondhi.
“Consistent with the terms of her employment contract, Ms. Silavs will receive her current salary through June 30, 2026, and receive health benefits on the same basis as active certificated employees until age 65, or when she otherwise becomes eligible for Medicare, whichever comes first,” she said.
Sondhi said the Board had also unanimously voted to appoint Ms. Tracy Mouren-Laurens, Executive Director of Human Resources, as Acting Superintendent effective immediately.
“The Board will meet in the coming days to select an Interim Superintendent to oversee district operations and the 2026/27 budget reduction process,” she said.
“We acknowledge Ms. Silavs’ years of service and her contributions to our music and STEM programs. Our priority remains the stability of our schools and the success of our students during this period of change,” she said.
“We are confident in a smooth transition with Ms. Mouren-Laurens,” said Sondhi.
Anne Silavs has served the Cypress School District as Superintendent since 2015 and her career ends in 2026, marking almost 11 years with the district.
However, with barely enough notice to meet state law, the Cypress Board of Trustees met again in special session on Monday, March 16, to consider bringing back a former employee with perhaps the greatest depth of knowledge about Fund 40 as Interim Superintendent.
According to the notice of meeting, the board interviewed Mouren-Laurens and Dr. Tim McClellan, the former Assistant Supt. for Business Affairs, who had retired last year for the position of Interim Supt. as they seek some stability to survive their current budget crisis.
“The Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to appoint Dr. Tim McLellan as Interim Superintendent effective April 9, 2026. This decision follows a thorough and thoughtful review process aimed at ensuring stable and effective leadership for the district during this transitional period to find a permanent Superintendent,” said the Board in a statement after the meeting.
More announcements are expected April 9, as Mouren-Laurens is expected to return to her positions in Human Resources and a more definative contract announcement for McLellan.
The Board also announced its Teachers of the Year at its March 12 meeting. The ENE will feature those selections in next week’s edition.