School District 51 Says Ken Haptonstall Top Choice for Superintendent

The District 51 School board has announced they are actively working to hire Dr. Ken Haptonstall as the new superintendent for the district.

The school board voted 4-0 to begin contract negotiations with Haptonstall and perform necessary background and reference checks.

Haptonstall is currently superintendent of Garfield County School District 16, having held that position since 2009.

He worked in District 51 as a computer science teacher at East Middle School and principal at Fruita Middle School before taking a position with the Garfield County School District.

In a press release from the district, school board member Doug Levinson says,

He (Haptonstall) brings the strengths of managing a district, passion for the job, the experience of running a system and working with boards. All of the criteria that when we talked a month-plus ago about what were essentials that we were looking for in a superintendent, I think are encapsulated with Ken.”

Levinson and other board members made their decision following meetings earlier this week, including a public meeting with the four finalists for the superintendent job.

The board says feedback from the community was key to helping them make the decision to select Haptonstall as the district's new superintendent.

Current District 51 Superintendent Steve Schultz is retiring on June 30. Schultz has been superintendent since 2009 and has been with the district a total of 35 years.

[School District 51]