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‘Living history book’ set to retire

Lockard leaving post on AASD board after serving for 44 years

When his current fight against raising school taxes ends for this year, when he’s done his due diligence in weighing options for new school construction, when he wraps up numerous projects as physical plant committee chairman by November, Dick Lockard will say goodbye to the school board he’s served on for 44 years.

Lockard has won 11 school board elections since 1969 and is the most senior member of the current school board.

Three other board members are up for re-election: board president John Donley, Judy Berryman and John Klingerman.

Lockard said he’s only told one fellow board member of his plans.

“They told me to run again. But it’s time for me to step down. One big thing is the age. I’ll turn 82 in September. It’s time to take it easy for a while,” he said.

“I’d like to see younger people get involved and take our kids’ education — and taxpayers’ concerns — seriously,” he said.

Looking back, Lockard noted the changes time has brought. The district’s budget was $11.5 million when he started on the board, he said; this year it’s about $100 million. The student population was more than 14,000 when he started on the board; now it’s about 7,800. And technology in classrooms now is worlds apart from when he started.

His current term on the school board will end in November, and he said he won’t run for re-election in the May primary.

Board President John Donley said he fell out of his chair at work when he listened to his voicemail and learned from the Mirror that Lockard intended to let his term on the board expire.

“When it comes to Dick Lockard, it’s like he and the school district are synonymous with each other,” Donley said. “To be a school board member for 44 years is unheard of anymore. He is truly dedicated to students, teachers and the district.”

Lockard has been through a lot of building projects. There were 22 elementary schools and three junior high schools when he started on the board. The district’s population has declined, and now the district is down to eight elementary schools and one junior high school.

However, the most recent school closures in 2013 should have never occurred, Lockard said. He voted against it.

Donley was elected to the board in the 2013 election season that followed that decision.

“Since I’ve been on the board, the district has been through a lot of transformation. For him to be there with his knowledge and history has been a help for me and the board,” Donley said.

“He’s like the living history book of Altoona Area School District. It’s sad to see him go, but after 44 years, I think I’d call it quits, too,” Donley said.

Board member Dutch Brennan was elected to the board in 2015 and is still in his first term.

“When I was getting all my signatures (to be a candidate), a person said to me that he (Lockard) has been in there too long. I thought that through — sometimes people start to lose their touch,” he said. “But at the first board meeting he starts to ask financial questions and pull numbers off the top of his head, and I was like, ‘Wow, this guy. He’s not dull. He still knows his stuff.'”

Brennan has often turned to Lockard for advice.

“Through my time on the board I’ve gone to him for many things. ‘Dick, how did you do this 20 years ago? What did this look like three years ago?’ He’s a fountain of historical knowledge, but he does heavy homework on the issues currently facing the board,” he said.

Brennan, Lockard and a few other board members serve on the joint operating committee of the Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center. At a recent meeting, Lockard found an error in financials at the center.

“They (administrators) said, ‘Mr. Lockard, you are right. Three people looked at this and didn’t see it.’ He’s just so sharp and knowledgeable,” Brennan said.

The board members, of course, have differences of opinions.

“But one thing (Lockard and I) get along about is his priority, first and foremost, is the kids. That’s what we are elected to do. As a parent, that is very important for me,” Brennan said. “I have a lot of respect for the guy.”

Lockard said he supports constructing a new high school building starting in 2018. Brennan also supports it.

“Education is a magnet for population. Our population has been cut in half. Education is also a magnet for commerce, business and jobs. They want a well educated workforce,” Brennan said.

The district administration may recommend a tax increase as it prepares a budget for the next school year.

“My main concern was always watching over the budget,” Lockard said. “I’ve been telling them how I felt about raising taxes. We don’t need to this year.”

Lockard also leads the board’s athletic and physical plant committees. Those roles are what he will miss most of all, he said.

“I have always felt that it was important to support our athletic program and all of the extra-curricular activities for the students,” he said.

Superintendent Charles Prijatelj said he is sorry to see Lockard go.

“Dick Lockard is a fixture in Altoona sports, everything from football games to basketball. He is very dedicated to the children. That is something you don’t get out of every school board member — his visibility,” Prijatelj said. “I’m hoping he continues to be a part of our family whether he’s running for the board again or not.”

Lockard’s knowledge of the district was a help to the new superintendent.

“He’s been a wealth of historical perspective on how things were done, whether building projects or athletics. He’s been a great resource. I’m sorry to see him go. I’m hoping he stays involved. He has such a presence,” Prijatelj said.

This week Lockard walked into the Mirror office to hand deliver a letter he typed to be published as a letter to the editor.

Three years ago, Lockard was among a few board members known by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association to have 40-plus years’ experience.

“As we face the upcoming election and after much prayerful consideration, I have decided not to run for another term on the Altoona Area School Board,” Lockard wrote in his letter. “For as long as I live, I shall continue to pray for and support the development of a strong and vital education program for Altoona Area School District.

“I am very thankful to God for giving me the ability to serve our great school district for 44 years and for all of you who allowed me to participate in making our district a leader among schools in Pennsylvania.”

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