Woodland Park School District RE-2 board names Ginger Slocum interim superintendent

The Woodland Park School District RE-2 Board of Education voted unanimously Aug. 1 to appoint Ginger Slocum as interim superintendent.

The appointment followed a public calibration discussion by board members after interviews with two finalists. The board's motion to name Slocum interim superintendent passed on a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes.

Board members said both finalists performed strongly in interviews and praised the contributions of the district employee who has been filling the role since the previous superintendent's departure. Several members noted Slocum's long record in education and local ties as reasons they favored her for the post despite the proximity of the new school year.

"I am very excited for the opportunity, and I feel honored to be able to represent our school district and look forward to working with the board of education and the community and really working hard to bring people back together and to move forward," Slocum said after the vote.

Board members described a close deliberation. One director said both candidates were "very strong" and that one candidate had "far more of the traditional skill sets" typically sought in an external search, while another member noted Slocum's established relationships within the community and district as decisive. Director Patterson said she had spoken with staff and heard strong favorability for Slocum and cited Slocum's experience and local residency.

Members also credited the current acting superintendent, Aaron Salt, for stepping into the role after Ken Litt's departure and for efforts to repair relationships and communicate openly with staff. Several board members said they hoped Salt would support the transition; one member thanked him for taking on the duties in the middle of the school year.

Slocum's qualifications were discussed in the meeting record: she was described by board members as having 28 years in education, including 17 years as a teacher and 11 years in school leadership; board members also said she holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a master's degree in curriculum and instruction and a post-master's degree in educational leadership. Board members noted her family ties to the district: a husband who works at the high school and a daughter who attends the high school.

The board emphasized the need for a united approach during the transition. The presiding officer said there could be follow-up meetings, possibly in August, to address outstanding transition items and items slated for the August agenda. Board members noted a recent budget reduction of about 10 percent and said new leadership would need to confront budgetary and staffing decisions early in the school year.

Motion details were read on the record and followed by a roll-call vote. The board indicated it had made no final decisions about the timing of the operational transition and that additional meetings and agenda items would address specifics. Several members urged cooperation between Slocum and Salt to ensure continuity.

The board adjourned after completing the vote and brief remarks of thanks to both finalists and to district staff who participated in the process.