District Considers Principal Applications

FARMINGTON — The Farmington School District has received 30 applications for the high school principal’s job, according to Clint Jones, assistant superintendent.

Jones said the administrative staff will thoroughly evaluate each applicant and then bring in the top candidates for personal interviews. Jones said the district is in the process of putting together at least one committee for the interviews. He said the committee will include teachers and school administrators and possibly others.

Jones said the goal is to have a recommendation for the position in time for the School Board’s March 25 meeting. If not, then a recommendation would be made in April.

The district accepted applications through Feb. 22.

Jones said the majority of the applicants are from all across Arkansas but the school also received applications from people in Missouri, Texas and one even from Utah. The applicants have a wide variety of experience, he said.

“We were pleased with the amount of applications and the quality of the candidates,” Jones said.

The applications do not include high school Principal Bob Echols, who was appointed acting principal in August 2012, after the resignation of former Principal Chris Webb. The high school is creating a Freshman Academy next year and Echols will serve as the 9th grade principal.

Webb was arrested July 19, 2012, on felony and misdemeanor charges and resigned as principal four days later. He recently was acquitted of the criminal charges because of mental disease or defect and committed to the Arkansas State Hospital for treatment and evaluation.

Jones said administrators realize this is a “big hire” for the district, noting, “We will take our time going through the applications.”