Embattled Lompoc Unified School District Superintendent Trevor McDonald resigned suddenly on Monday, a month after the release of a climate survey showing low opinions of his leadership.
The school board held a meeting at noon Monday for a closed session discussion on a personnel matter, and announced McDonald’s resignation, effective immediately — just three weeks before the new school year’s start.
In a written statement, McDonald cited family reasons for stepping down.
“The time has come for me to focus on supporting my wife in her career pursuits, as she has done for me for many years,” said McDonald. “We have two potential 2024 and/or 2028 Olympic athletes that I need to support in better fashion.”
However, the announcement comes at an unusual time — weeks before classes resume and as the district again asks voters to approve a $125 million bond to update facilities on the November ballot.
It also comes a month after the school board released the results of a climate survey that showed low opinions among staff and parents for McDonald’s leadership
The survey showed that only 28.3% of staff and 47.1% of parents deem McDonald an effective leader, while 30.6% of staff and 47.7% of parents agree the superintendent is building the district in the right direction.
District leadership also received low results among staff who responded to the survey, with only 27.8% agreeing favoritism is not a problem and similarly low scores for whether all employees are treated justly and equally and if leadership is fair and even handed in the treatment of all employees.
The district’s board of trustees, which hires the superintendent, also received low ratings in several categories.
“The news of Mr. McDonald’s departure was surprising, but ultimately, we feel this will yield positive changes for Lompoc Unified’s students, families, and staff,” said Skyler Petersen, president of the Lompoc Federation of Teachers.
Under McDonald’s leadership, labor-management relations, particularly between LFT and the district, have deteriorated substantially in recent years, resulting in multiple grievances, unfair labor practice charges, and a long fight in contract bargaining that led to LFT filing for impasse to resolve negotiations for the 2021-22 contract, Petersen added.
“LFT sincerely hopes that the LUSD school board will replace Mr. McDonald with a more pro-student and pro-educator superintendent, who is accessible and responsive to the concerns of the community and LUSD employees.”
McDonald, who has been a focal point for those upset at the district, recently received his first evaluation in at least five years.
He had led the district for nine years, arriving in 2013. District officials said he held the job 10 years and that he was the longest-serving superintendent since 1975.
“My focus has always been on the kids and doing what’s best for them,” McDonald said in a written statement. “The students of Lompoc deserve a quality education, and I am honored to have helped provide that to them.”
During his tenure, the district established a Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Los Berros School, solar panels were installed at Buena Vista and Cabrillo High, social-emotional counselors were added to all 16 campuses, and gopher-meshing was installed at the elementary and high schools campuses
Additionally, a grassroots fundraising campaign led to a massive makeover for Huyck Stadium’s track and field at Lompoc High School.
The district press release included a short statement on behalf of the board.
“The board is grateful for Mr. McDonald’s service, and thanks him for his many accomplishments and the positive impact he has had on Lompoc students over the last decade.”
McDonald has received multiple awards during his time at Lompoc.
The press released initially said the board has appointed Deputy Superintendent Bree Valla to serve as interim superintendent until the position is filled permanently, but later was corrected to say an interim leader had not been named.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.