Update

Lackey named acting superintendent

Decatur High School Principal Lyle Lackey will serve as acting superintendent as the district seeks the next person to lead the district.

The school board on Friday voted 4-3 to name Lackey to the role, after a vote to name DISD Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Michelle Wooten to an interim role failed by the same vote. Stan Shults along with newly-elected board members Delvon Campbell, Matt Joiner and Nate Bayless voted in favor of Lackey while Scott Koehler, Jeremy Duncan and Sandra Schneider voted for Wooten.

In another split vote, Shults was elected board president by a 4-2 vote. He was nominated along with Schneider for the position, and Shults was elected on the first vote with Schneider and Duncan voting in the minority. Joiner was elected vice president and Schneider secretary after no other nominations were made for those officer positions.

Outgoing Superintendent Chad Jones was unanimously appointed as superintendent emeritus, an honorary title for someone who is retired from the superintendent position. Jones last August announced his intention to retire at the end of the current school year, and the board accepted his retirement in January.

In a letter sent to staff and parents following the meeting, Jones explained his role moving forward.

“At tonight’s Board meeting, the Board named me Superintendent Emeritus through June 30.  This supports the district moving forward with the search for the next superintendent or interim superintendent,” he said.

The board is currently in the process of reviewing superintendent candidates.

Lackey has served as DHS principal since July of 2021. He will continue to lead the high school as principal but will also help out at board meetings and at central administration as needed, Jones said.

“We appreciate Mr. Lackey’s leadership and his willingness to serve in this temporary role,” he said.

Lackey previously served six years as principal at Jayton-Girard ISD and assistant principal at Weatherford High School from 2013-2015. He has also held teaching and coaching positions at Mansfield ISD’s Summit High School and Cleburne ISD.

Campbell was sworn in to Place 5. He was unopposed in the May 4 election.

Joiner was sworn in to Place 6. He defeated HollyAnn Petree after winning 69 percent of the vote.

Bayless was sworn in to Place 7. He was elected with 72 percent of the vote over Brad Rieger.