New South Fayette superintendent to host community day
During his first school board meeting as South Fayette’s new superintendent, Kenneth Lockette said he will be hosting a community day on Jan. 24 to formally introduce himself.
“I wanted to have a more informal opportunity to meet with those in the community,” Lockette said during the board’s Jan. 16 meeting.
Lockette will meet with members in the community at 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at South Fayette’s campus.
“I hope folks are able to come out and just have some informal discussion to learn more about the district and for me to hear about community needs so I can interact with some in the community,” Lockette said.
Also during the meeting, Lockette updated the board on the beginning of his tenure as superintendent, which began on Jan. 3.
“It’s been great to work with the others in the district and those in the township. I’ve established those relationships right off the bat,” Lockette said. “I was fortunate to come in in December several days to have some transition time with Dr. (Bille) Rondinelli, which was very valuable. It was nice to be on campus prior to starting.”
Lockette said he still wants to get acclimated before he starts considering making any changes.
“My plan moving forward entering the district is really to listen and learn and develop a needs assessment after the second semester ends,” he said. “It’s actually serendipity the second day I was here we had an academic team leadership meeting scheduled with all of us together. We’re really off to a good start. I’ve really enjoyed being here.”
In the meantime, Lockette and the district will work to re-apply to be a part of the Digital Promise of Innovative Schools. Since the district changed superintendent, it must re-apply. Lockette’s previous school, Avonworth, was also a Digital Promise member, and Lockette said that initiative is a priority of his.
In other news:
- Board president Alan Vezzi said Tom Templeton, the district’s consultant for the superintendent search, suggested the board hold a retreat to “discuss some of the items we want to change and how do we want to address Dr. Lockette’s assimilation into the district,” Vezzi said.
- The make-up day for the Jan. 5 cancellation will be March 29.