Three Lompoc Unified School District (LUSD) alumni Doug Sorum, Sam Blanton and Scott Bauldry have been promoted to administrative positions this year.

“Having products of our school system advance through the ranks to administrative positions shows our students and community that they, too, can advance to leadership positions,” said Superintendent Trevor McDonald. “It’s really inspirational.”

Sorum, who attended Cabrillo High School, Vandenberg Middle School (VMS), Westwings Elementary (demolished in 2013) and Buena Vista Elementary, became the interim assistant superintendent of business services in January.

Sorum had worked his way through the ranks of the district’s maintenance and operations department over the last 25 years before becoming interim assistant superintendent.

“Doug’s background in the district, plus his extensive training around school budgets provides him with a great perspective on how we can best utilize our funds to provide the best learning facilities for our students,” McDonald said.

“Doug literally sat in the seats our students are still sitting in, as have the other new administrators,” he said. “His family moved to Lompoc when Miguelito [elementary] was being built.”

With Sorum’s promotion, Blanton advanced to the post of maintenance and operations supervisor. Blanton attended Hapgood Elementary, Los Berros Visual and Performing Arts Academy, Lompoc Valley Middle School, VMS, and Lompoc and Maple high schools,

“Sam is energetic and committed to LUSD, and we look forward to having him serve our sites,” McDonald said.

Sorum, who has worked for LUSD for 16 years has a military background and experience in the construction industry. He now oversees the LUSD maintenance and operations department, which includes maintenance, grounds, custodial and transportation services.  

Bauldry was promoted to the custodial supervisor for LUSD. An alumni of LUSD who attended Clarence Ruth, El Camino, LVMS, and Lompoc High, Bauldry will supervise the custodial staff across all 16 school sites as well as the Education Center and all other facilities.

“Scott is a quality employee who operates with integrity and honesty, and we are pumped to have him on the leadership team,” McDonald said.

“It’s a unique situation we find ourselves in, with all three of our newest administrators being alumni who have cumulatively attended over half of our campuses and who have children attending or who have graduated from our schools,” McDonald said. “It really brings home the community feel of Lompoc.”