Lockwood board appoints hiring committee and approves Khaliva to run superintendent search

The Lockwood K-12 School Board voted to authorize a hiring committee to engage the Khaliva law firm to assist with a full superintendent search.

The board chair appointed Dave Robinson, Jackie Lurang and Stacy (surname unclear in transcript) to serve on the superintendent hiring committee. Charity moved to authorize the committee to use Khaliva and Jackie seconded; the motion passed by voice vote.

Board members discussed vendor options. Jackie summarized available information: MTSBA was quoted as a $7,000 flat fee plus travel expenses; Khaliva offered a $6,000 cap billed by the hour and the firm’s representative had offered to meet with the committee in person. Members referenced Harden’s positive experience with Khaliva and the potential for lower exposure to travel expenses under the capped fee structure.

Public commenters offered mixed views. Several urged a transparent, external search. Others argued for internal continuity and named Assistant Superintendent Kelly Kinsey as a qualified internal candidate. Board members emphasized the committee will research options and return recommendations on timing and scope — including whether to begin outreach immediately or target the 2026–27 school year.

Don stated he had been advised by legal counsel to have no involvement in the search process because he is a retiring/resigning superintendent; he removed himself from the process and directed search materials to another staff member.

Next steps: the hiring committee will meet with the Khaliva representative (who is available locally next Monday, per the discussion), refine the scope and timeline, and report back to the full board with a formal recommendation for how and when to proceed with candidate recruitment.