Letter To The Editor

To the Editor:

I understand that the Prairie Grove school board has reassigned Dr. Allen Williams from Superintendent of Schools to Assistant Superintendent of Schools in charge of finances and has replaced him as Superintendent on an interim basis. The explanation given so far is that it simply was a “personal matter.” I believe that the staff of the Prairie Grove School system and the public deserve a more extensive explanation of this, for I believe that Dr. Williams has served this school system well and if his conduct was so egregious so as to cause him to be reassigned, I think the public deserves to know about that.

I have no information about the particular facts that were presented to the school board that led to this decision and I recognize that I am not entitled to know these facts. However, I do believe that the decision to reassign Dr. Williams is seriously wrong; works to the detriment of the Prairie Grove School system; and generally causes such a mess that no other capable school administrator is likely to want to associate with the Prairie Grove School system.

Some of you may recall that, prior to Dr. Williams, we had three (3) superintendents that served a total of five (5) years. The situation at the time Dr. Williams came here was chaotic and the school system desperately needed stability. Dr. Williams provided that.

From the published information I see, the school system is on a sound financial footing and, from the published list of the “Best” school systems of our size in the State of Arkansas, we always seem to be in the top tier.

So, absent some damn good explanation of why the school board thought this was a good idea, I will actively oppose any present school board member who stands for re-election. Sincerely, John C. Everett Prairie Grove