NLR School Board vote kills reorganization plan

A divided North Little Rock School Board on Thursday rejected interim Superintendent Bobby Acklin’s administrative reorganization plan that included promoting the district’s executive director of human resources to the sole assistant superintendent job.

On a related matter, Acklin withdrew his recommendation to the board that the principals at Boone Park and Indian Hills elementary schools swap positions — a proposal that brought out staff members from both schools in support of their school leaders.

Acklin made the staffing proposals shortly after becoming the interim superintendent July 1.

He dismissed the district’s deputy superintendent, Beth Shumate, proposed assigning Karli Saracini, executive director of human resources, to the new position of assistant superintendent, and sought to put Lori Smith, principal at Crestwood Elementary, in the revamped position of director of elementary curriculum, assessment and accountability. The district’s director of elementary education, Rosie Coleman, retired earlier this year.

Acklin’s plan also included filling the human resources position and establishing a communications coordinator job. Acklin initially proposed filling the human resources job with an assistant principal in the district, but that person has since accepted a job in a neighboring district. Acklin on Thursday did not have recommendations for specific people for filling the human resources and communications jobs.

A motion to approve Acklin’s staffing proposal was voted down 2-3.

Board member Darrell Montgomery, part of the majority against the plan, said he wanted to advertise the administrative openings within the district so that all who are interested could apply.

“Maybe the same results

will come forward as have been recommended,” Montgomery said, “but I believe everybody should have a fair opportunity if we are going to be ‘World Class,’” which was a reference to district’s long-standing motto.

“Decisions shouldn’t be made in secret and then expect for us to come and rubber stamp the decisions that have been made in secret,” Montgomery said.

The staffing proposals caught at least some of the board members by surprise at a special meeting July 12, and the matter was tabled until Thursday.

Acklin told the board and the large audience at the meeting that normally all the positions would have been advertised for applicants.

“I was a little late coming in,” he said about his job. “I know people in this district, and I reached out to them to be part of the reorganization of our district. Where I knew good people and had worked with good people, proven people, I chose to go with the reorganization route where I didn’t have to post [the jobs].”

He said that he chose the reorganization route “in the attempt to get organized and support you and be ready for the students. That’s the only reason.”

“Those of you who know me know that is the truth. Those of you who don’t, will. Just stick with me,” he said.

Board member Dorothy Williams made the motion to approve the administrative staffing plan. She and board

President Sandi Campbell voted for it while Montgomery, Taniesha Richardson-Wiley and Cindy Temple voted against it.

The audience members cheered when Acklin announced that he was withdrawing his proposal to assign Boone Park Principal Steve Orobono to Indian Hills and assign Indian Hills Elementary Principal Shanda Coleman to Boone Park.

Earlier teachers from both schools appealed to the board to forgo the swap for reasons that included the proximity of the starting date for the new school year and the principals’ inability to be adequately prepared for new schools.

Teachers at Boone Park praised Orobono for the improved school climate and support he has shown students and teachers this past year.

Indian Hills’ employees praised Coleman for her support of teachers and staff and, while she “isn’t bubbly,” as one said, she creates situations in which they could grow. But Indian Hills parent Floyd Carrethers told the board that his child was the victim of bullying at the school “and nothing was done about it.” He and Jimmy Cavins, a school district activist, told the board that multiple longtime teachers and families have left Indian Hills under Coleman’s tenure.

Cavins said he was speaking for teachers and parents “too scared to speak,” and said the initial plan to swap the principals was not solving the problem, but moving it.