New Lucia Mar chief is no stranger to declining enrollment, budget cuts

Jim Hogeboom starts July 1 as superintendent of SLO County’s largest school district

By Dawn White

Lucia Mar school district’s new superintendent says he hopes to create a more unified board and administration that would work together to confront challenges such as budget cuts and falling enrollment.

Jim Hogeboom — now assistant superintendent in Corvallis, Ore.—signed a three-year contract last week that the board of San Luis Obispo County’s largest school district is expected to approve tonight.

When Hogeboom starts July 1, he’ll earn $164,560 per year to lead South County schools, which have more than 10,000 students enrolled.

Hogeboom replaces Deborah Flores, who resigned last year to become schools superintendent in Gilroy.

Hogeboom said Monday that his experience with budget cuts, declining enrollment, school closures and state-mandated improvement plans during his three years in Oregon has prepared him to lead Lucia Mar.

His Oregon district had to close three of its schools over 10 years because of declining enrollment, he said.

While no school closures are planned in the South County, Hogeboom said his Oregon experience has helped him learn to prioritize and make tough decisions.

“Leadership positions in education are hard, but I’m a ‘big picture’ kind of person,” he said.

Hogeboom said that once he moves his family to the Central Coast, he’ll have three initial priorities: assess Lucia Mar’s strengths and weaknesses, understand its budget outlook, and create a strategic plan.

That plan would come after talking to the community, teachers and parents about their expectations and goals for education, he said.

The challenges Hogeboom expects to face include working with limited funds while preparing students for a global economy.

“The pace of change is so rapid that it’s hard to keep up,” he said. “We need to do a better job at helping students become problem solvers and critical thinkers,” he said.

Hogeboom said he’s aware that the Lucia Mar board has been considered divisive in the past, but he didn’t expect that to be an issue in the future.

“The board worked together in hiring me,” he noted. “I’m a big fan of open and honest communication and think it’s a very workable board.”

Hogeboom said he is excited about the district’s Regional Occupations Program class-es, which of fer technical courses on engineering, agriculture and cooking.

Hogeboom has two children, a 9-year-old and 11-year-old, who will be enrolled in the district, he said, giving him a parent’s perspective.

He added that he would be a hands-on superintendent who has a presence at the district’s 17 schools.

“I plan to be in the schools at least one day a week, meeting the students, visiting principals and being in the classes.”