Joe Dan Lee announces retirement

My intention was to serve as interim superintendent for four months; plan, promote and pass the bond issue; and go back to work for TASB, Lee said. Four months has now turned into four years.

During his tenure, Lee said some of his biggest accomplishments included passing the 2010 voter-approved bond package, transitioning to two ninth- through 12th-grade high school campuses and overseeing student successes in all extracurricular activities.

These four years have been very rewarding, and I dont mind telling you that they have been very challenging, Lee said. I look back over the past four years and look at all this district has been through and the things that we have been able to accomplish, and its really been pretty amazing.

Lee also led the district through $7.4 million in budget reductions after the Texas Legislature cut nearly $5 billion in education funding statewide in 2011, and he oversaw the approval of a 4 cent tax ratification election.

His guiding principle has always been what is the right thing to do for students? said Scott Alarcon, GISD board of trustees president.

Alarcon said the board will hold a special called meeting to discuss how it will find a new superintendent. The board could consider hiring a search firm.

It has to be cost-effective, but we need to make sure we do everything possible to get the best candidates, he said. With [the effective date of his retirement] being in July, we have more time, but we still need to move forward.

Lee said upcoming projects such as the implementation of the districts strategic plan currently being developed and new education requirements made it a good time for him to retire.

[The strategic plan and the new requirements] will require a three- to five-year commitment from district leadership, [and] I cannot commit to that length of continued service to GISD, he said.

Lee is completing his 39th year in public schools, 27 of which he served as superintendent. He previously served as superintendent in Redwater ISD and Longview Pine Tree ISD.

Ive served my time; Ive been a good, faithful servant; and its time for me to let someone else come in and take a great school district and make it even better, he said. I think that is what will happen because this school district is very attractive to a lot of really great superintendents out there. Ive been blessed to do this twice, and Ill never forget it.

Superintendent accomplishments

Superintendent Joe Dan Lee said the board of trustees approached him in July 2010 to serve as interim superintendent to plan, promote and pass the 2010 bond election. In November 2010 he took the position full time and has helped navigate the district through several issues in the past four years, he said.

Lee said he wanted to see the first senior class graduate from East View High School and have renovations at Georgetown High School completed before retiring.

I told [my wife] Tracy, the last four years have just been boom, boom, boom nonstop, and I really want to sit back and enjoy all of this stuff for one year, and that is what I got to do this year, he said.

Lee said his accomplishments included:

• Helping pass a $137 million bond package in 2010, which included money to expand East View High School to a four-year high school, renovate Georgetown High School and build the new McCoy Elementary School; the bond also included funding to build Elementary School No. 11 and Middle School No. 4
• Leading the district through the transition to two ninth- through 12th-grade high schools
• Leading the district through $7.4 million in budget reductions caused by the Texas Legislatures 2011 statewide funding cuts
• Helping pass a 4 cent tax ratification election in October 2012
• Overseeing student success academically and athletically in all extracurricular activities