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Candidate for Lockwood interim superintendent says he would prioritize transparency and stakeholder engagement
Summary
In an interview with the Lockwood School District board, a candidate said he lacks hands-on budget-creation experience but emphasized stakeholder input, transparency, and support for teachers; he said leading without an assistant superintendent is possible but not always advisable and expects to be available about Aug. 1.
The candidate interviewed by the Lockwood School District board (Speaker 7 in the transcript) told trustees he has not had the opportunity to "physically create budgets" but described experience understanding budget line ramifications and prioritizing student needs when resources are tight. "What is the best decision? I'm going to pull from all of our stakeholders and look at what are the things that we need to do," the candidate said.
On making difficult budget choices such as program reductions or facility changes, the candidate said such decisions require pulling stakeholders together, assessing needs and making hard choices to protect student services. When asked about the appropriate level of board participation, the candidate said the superintendent must provide information and recommended open communication; he emphasized transparency when relationships with candidates exist.
On recruiting teachers and administrators, the candidate recommended highlighting community strengths and improving advertising. Asked how to foster a positive working atmosphere, he said he would surface public concerns "out front into the light and give it a voice," work to fix what is fixable and explain why some issues cannot be resolved.
Asked about monitoring student achievement and supporting instruction, the candidate favored independent assessments not tied to a particular curriculum and stressed ensuring teachers have necessary resources without micromanaging. Regarding change and vision, he said change is necessary but must be deliberate and focused on student autonomy and creativity.
When directly asked whether a district of this size can be led effectively without an assistant superintendent, the candidate said "It's possible... Do I think it would be the best for the school district? Maybe not." He recommended retaining an assistant where appropriate and weighing budget tradeoffs.
On availability, the candidate said he expects to be able to begin in early August and indicated a willingness to be flexible on compensation to help the district meet budget constraints. The board said it would continue interviews with remaining candidates and consider appointment action later that evening.
