Superintendent Haim announced his retirement during the Dec. 1 Time with Haim podcast and said the Lawton Public Schools board has launched an official search to name his successor.

Haim said the board hired OSSBA to run the search, circulated a survey of community priorities and began conducting interviews this week. "They're using the OSSBA," he said, adding that the process is "above board" and that he has no role in deciding the timeline or interviews.

The superintendent framed the transition as planned and routine, noting he remains at work each morning and has been in the district for six years. He thanked board members and said he has confidence they will "do a good job" hiring the next superintendent.

Next steps, as described on the podcast, are continued review of applications and interviews; Haim did not provide firm dates for an appointment or a final transition schedule.