Cutter Morning Star suspends, investigates principal, teacher

The Cutter Morning Star Elementary School principal has been placed on administrative leave pending an unspecified investigation related to student safety, according to Superintendent Nancy Anderson.

“She is on administrative leave pending an investigation. Our primary concern is the safety of our students,” Anderson said in a statement released to the newspaper Wednesday evening.

The Sentinel-Record submitted a request Wednesday morning under Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act for communication with employees about the situation.

The Sentinel-Record had also requested a statement from the district to clarify the circumstances.

Cutter Morning Star Elementary School Principal Jann Gibson and, according to a community member who contacted the newspaper, an elementary teacher were reportedly placed on administrative leave with pay on Oct. 11. The district held a special called meeting that evening.

The community member told the newspaper that the investigation was related to corporal punishment of students.

District employees were reportedly informed on Oct. 12 and retired administrator Terry Lawler was hired as a shortterm replacement for Gibson. Lawler retired in January 2016 as principal of Langston Aerospace and Environmental Studies Magnet School in the Hot Springs School District.

An online petition was filed on Change.org earlier this week to request

that Superintendent Nancy Anderson and the Cutter Morning Star School Board reinstate Gibson. The petition described Gibson as a “shining light.”

“This should not seem surprising since the Cutter Morning Star has been through over 50 teachers and 6 principals in the last 5 years,” the petition says. “Our children in the building have not had any consistency until Mrs. Gibson has come along.”

Gibson joined Cutter Morning Star three years ago from Yellville. She introduced an annual Orange Week fundraiser, which recently closed its third year with $4,764.97 raised for the school’s clothes closet and weekend backpack meals program.

“I have heard stories of her staying late to help parents get what they need, and she has gone as far as paying students’ lunch fines,” said the writer of the petition. “She is greatly loved by her staff who described her as ‘the head of the family’ and ‘demonstrating what a compassionate and loving leader really is.’”

The petition began with a goal of 200 signatures. Almost 190 signatures were added to the petition by Wednesday afternoon.

“Cutter Morning Star needs Jann Gibson in their corner,” the petition says. “They do not need to continue on the path of consistent rotation of principals and teachers. Please for the sake of our precious children, bring Jann Gibson back.”

The petition does not mention any possibly suspended teacher.