The Sedona-Oak Creek School District Governing Board met Wednesday, Feb. 16, to discuss their choice for the district’s superintendent job — and picked David Lykins to fill that role.
Lykins has been with the district for approximately 12 years and currently serves as principal of Sedona Red Rock High School. He’s set to assume his new duties as superintendent July 1, 2011.
“The first thing I thought was how thankful I was for the Governing Board and the process they put in place,” Lykins said.
“The second thing I thought about was the succession planning. I have to leave the spot that I’m in, that I love, and have had for 12 years. I’ve already thought of those things. I’m excited about the challenges and the opportunity.
“More importantly, I’m excited about the future of our success at the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District.”
Lykins said he has a number of goals in mind when it comes to his new position.
“My overarching goal is to create an atmosphere that is one that has a support and value system for all of its stakeholders. By that I mean having a collaborative process that encourages stakeholder involvement and building what I call a ‘culture’ that supports and values everyone involved in that learning community,” Lykins said.
With that in place, he added school officials can begin to make tough decisions.
“With the economy the way it is and funding the way that it is, we’ll have to continue to make great decisions with the funds that we have,” Lykins said, adding ways to maximize alternative revenue sources would also be investigated, including making new partnerships across Yavapai County.
Nancy Alexander will continue to serve as interim superintendent until Lykins takes over later this year. Alexander assumed the duties from former SOCSD Superintendent Mike Aylstock, who resigned from the job last year. Governing Board members began the process of filling the position in November.
Alexander said the Governing Board voted unanimously to appoint Lykins to the position.
“The final contract with components for compensation, mentoring and performance-based criteria will be presented at the March 3, 2011, Governing Board meeting,” Alexander said.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at West Sedona School.
Susann Terry-Gage, Ph.D., the other candidate in line for the superintendent position, works as director of special education for the district.
Interviews with the two candidates began at 8 a.m. on Feb. 16. Candidates were interviewed and taken on site visits throughout the school district.
“Then the board called in the principals and business manager to get input from the site visits. Then they went out of executive session and made a motion to offer Mr. Lykins the contract,” Alexander said.
District officials held an open house Feb. 7, during which the public, teachers and parents were invited to meet the two candidates. Nearly 100 people were in attendance.
Board members opted to choose an in-house candidate for the position rather than seek to fill the job through a national or statewide search.
