Hampton-Dumont hires interim principal for 2021-22 school year

The Hampton-Dumont Community School District announced last week that they have hired an interim high school principal for the next school year.

Retired principal Randy Bushbam has agreed to come on board for a year, giving time for the district to search for a permanent replacement for current Principal Steve Madson, who will be moving to a different position in the district.

An educator with a 30 year career, including 15 years as a principal, Bushbaum retired from the West Fork school district five years ago and did not expect to ever return to work. However, when H-D's candidate for principal fell through, the district had to find a temporary replacement on short notice.

"I was sitting on the beach in Florida thinking I've got the good life all figured out and my phone rings and they asked if I'd be interested," said Bushbaum. "The more I talked to them about it, the more it sounded like something I was ready to do."

Bushbaum has known H-D Superintendent Todd Lettow for nearly 20 years, going as far back to his days in Nora Springs, which contributed to him agreeing to accept the temporary return to work.

"When you're my age and you're going into things, you don't really feel like meeting new bosses," joked Bushbaum.

"I'm pretty excited to be working with him," said Lettow. "He certainly had a good rapport with the kids, building relationships with the kids and the staff. Coming out of COVID, I think that's the most important thing."

Bushbaum is currently working to get himself re-licensed and re-certified so that he can step back into the role of principal. Knowing some of the staff and kids of the district already, he is looking forward to returning to work and getting to know the rest of the students and faculty.

"I'm probably a little more excited than I thought I'd be," said Bushbaum. "We all need something to energize us, you know."