Wynne school chief’s firing is reversed

The superintendent of the Wynne School District, who was ousted last week by the School Board, got his job back Monday when board members voted to reverse their decision.

Carl Easley, 60, said Tuesday that he felt “blindsided” and was not given a reason why his contract was terminated. He said he had no idea why the decision was made, and he declined to speculate why the board abruptly bought out the remaining year and a half of his contract.

“You’re hurt, you’re angry, you’re embarrassed — because the perception across the state, for people who don’t know me, is that I’ve done something wrong,” said Easley, who has worked for the school district for 38 years, including eight as superintendent. “A lot of my superintendent friends called me and asked, you know, and I couldn’t tell them what I’d done.”

The board voted 3-2 Jan. 27 to buy out the remainder of the contract, which was set to expire at the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year. One week later, Easley was reinstated after board President Shannon Hobbs and board member Jackie Clark reversed their votes.

Regional television station KAIT reported that community members were upset with the decision to buy out Easley’s contract, with some wearing shirts that read #ISupportEasley during Monday’s meeting.

Easley said two of his elementary school principals were in communication with one of the board members after the initial meeting, and the board member later informed them that he would change his vote.

Clark and Hobbs did not respond Tuesday to requests for comment from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. In a statement to KAIT after the superintendent’s reinstatement, Clark did not specifically explain what led him to change his mind.

“My vote is one vote on the board and the board’s intentions are always kids first,” Clark said in the statement. “I am excited that the dialogue has been opened for discussions and the number of people that care about our district is far-reaching.”

Board member Spencer Parker was absent when members voted to reinstate Easley but turned up after an executive session, according to KAIT.

Minutes were not available Tuesday for the two board meetings, according to a secretary to the superintendent. The secretary said the School Board tabled a decision Monday to approve the meeting minutes from the Jan. 27 meeting.

Easley said going back to work has not been awkward.

“Everybody has been happy that I’m back and welcoming me back,” he said. “And I’m happy to be back.”

Easley said he has not spoken to assistant superintendent Kathy Lee, who was named interim superintendent after the board chose to remove Easley. Easley said he also hasn’t spoken to Hobbs about the reversal.

Easley said he had spoken with board members Stacie Schlenker and Neal Jackson, both of whom voted against the revocation of his contract.