Randy Weseman

From left are retiring Lawrence Public School administrators Bruce Passman, Mary Rodriguez and Superintendent Randy Weseman. Don Stevanov took this picture at the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s 19th annual Foundation Follies at Liberty Hall. Susan Esau, executive director of Lawrence Schools Foundation and LEAP, submitted the picture.

While Randy Weseman’s departure on Tuesday from the school district he loves will be bittersweet, he’s fully convinced Lawrence public schools will move forward without him.

“It’s meaningful to have spent my entire working life in Lawrence, and I feel pretty good about that,” said Weseman, who turns 60 in August and plans to remain in Lawrence.

He said the district had accomplished a great deal in the 10 years he’s been at the helm, including improving student achievement, opening and operating the largest virtual school in Kansas and upgrading each facility by either rebuilding or retrofitting.

“I think we’ve had great success in crafting a system that produces quality education,” Weseman said. “I know that our kids have been given a good education.”

But, of course, Weseman didn’t accomplish all he wanted, especially because he and the district grappled with shrinking budgets and growing expenses.

“I think we’ve made strides in terms of benefits and salaries for our teachers. I certainly would like to see more,” Weseman said. “All you do is fight the budget.”

As he looks to the district’s future, he said he hoped to see outstanding teaching rewarded.

And while he spent more than three decades working his way up through the district, spending time at Lawrence High and three of the four Lawrence junior highs, Weseman is not exactly sure what to make of his “legacy.”

“I don’t think about things like that,” he said. “I’m not sure what legacy is left other than I think you have a great school system here in Lawrence.”

Weseman said a persistent challenge for schools was ensuring that children of all means and at all levels were educated equally.

“That’s one of the big challenges in public education, is to make sure you’re providing for all kids, particularly those who come with minimal resources,” Weseman said.

He knows that his successor, Rick Doll, will face never-ending budget challenges.

“There’s going to be a discussion about how our schools are configured,” Weseman said. “I don’t think we’re at the end of this economic cycle.”

And communicating how school finance works to the public is a recurring issue — one that will continue for years to come.

“On the one hand, you’re spending money on capital projects, which is separate money from the general fund,” Weseman said. “That’s a constant communication battle.”

It’s partially the state’s budget problems that helped Weseman decide now was the time to retire. He wasn’t sure he had the commitment to see the district through this round of tough economic times.

“I didn’t think another three to five years would be realistic on my part,” he said.

And then, there are personal considerations. Weseman wants to spend time with his children and grandchildren and pursue some other interests.

But he won’t be writing a book.

“I don’t think anybody would read it,” Weseman said with a laugh.

“It’s been a pleasure to work in this community and to be allowed to work in this community,” he said. “I’m just so happy it turned out that way.”