The Goleta school board chose a new principal for La Patera Elementary School following the retirement of Patricia Santiago. Ricardo Araiza, selected from a pool of about 30 applicants, will leave his current post as principal at an elementary school in Pittsburg, Calif., to take over in August. But he will visit La Patera on May 15 to meet staff and families. Superintendent William Banning cited Araiza’s “record of improving student achievement and building collegial relationships” in a published announcement.
