TAKE NOTE: Community comes together around annual Record Store Day event later this month P18
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April 12, 2018
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
‘A fierce public-education advocate’ School board selects Thomas Tucker, leader of a district in Cincinnati, as new superintendent
BUILDING INTEREST: Proposed $72 million project would bring condos, office space, retail and parking to downtown P5
BY ALEX DEWIND ADEWIND@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
He’s trustworthy, student-centered, an inspiration, a lifelong learner. That’s how Douglas County School Board members described their choice for the district’s new superintendent. At a special meeting on April 5, the seven school board members voted unanimously to hire Thomas Tucker, the superintendent of Princeton City Schools in Cincinnati. Pending agreement on a contract, he will start in the 2018-19 school year. “Ultimately, he struck me as an individual who cares very much about people,” board member Wendy Vogel said during the meeting at the district’s administration building in Castle Rock. “The one comment he made to us that got to me the most is that public education saves lives. He is undoubtedly a fierce publiceducation advocate.” The decision follows a recent shift of power on the school board. In November, voters elected Anthony Graziano, Christina Schor, Krista Holtzmann and Kevin Leung to fill the seats of four reform-minded members, signaling a change in a longstanding majority board that espoused policies that, to many people, caused an exodus of teachers in recent years. The board has since taken steps to undo decisions made by the previous majority board, like rescinding a controversial voucher program that would have used public money to help parents pay for private schools.
Thomas Tucker, the current superintendent of Princeton City Schools in Cincinnati, has been selected by the Douglas County School Board as the district’s new superintendent. Tucker has 27 years of experience as classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of secondary curriculum and superintendent. ALEX DEWIND To address the district’s need for additional funding, the school board is looking at tax measures for the November ballot. A bond measure would address capital needs and a mill levy override would address teacher pay, compensation and school programming. For school board President David Ray, the board’s superintendent selection was of utmost importance. “We absolutely know that this is probably one of the most important decisions we will make as a board,” he said. “I’ve never seen a more dedicated group of volunteers who have put in so many hours to see what is right for our 68,000 kids.” Colorado law requires a 14-day waiting period between naming of the finalist and offering a contract. DCSD’s job posting indicated the annual salary would be in the
$260,000 range, according to Ray. About Tucker Tucker expressed his gratitude to the school board. “It’s a distinct honor and privilege to help lead one of America’s finest — and I do mean finest — public school systems,” Tucker said in a news release issued by the Douglas County School District. Tucker was born and raised in northeastern Arkansas. He received his bachelor’s degree from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas. He continued his education at Ohio State univerisity, where he received a doctorate in education with an emphasis in higher education, student affairs and communication, and a master’s degree in educational policy and leadership.
‘AN AWESOME FACILITY’ Site in Douglas County offers life-saving training for emergency responders P7 A NET GAIN: Area athletes hope boys volleyball becomes a sanctioned sport P30
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THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
‘We’re not a small town — 65,000 (residents) is not a small town.’ David Corliss, town manager | Page 2 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 18 | CALENDAR: PAGE 26 | SPORTS: PAGE 29
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net
VOLUME 116 | ISSUE 24