A new leader for Decatur
Posted on Thursday, August 7, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/64495/
DECATUR — The next step in the Decatur School District’s story is scheduled for 11 a. m. today. That’s when school district patrons will find out who their next leader will be.
The announcement, in the Decatur High School library, will come from the Arkansas Department of Education, which took control of the school district last week.
On July 31, the Arkansas State Board of Education voted to take over the district, which included disbanding the school board and replacing the superintendent.
The new superintendent will work closely with Education Commissioner Ken James to solve the many problems facing Decatur. The decision for the state to take over district operations was an alternative to the proposed action — to annex Decatur schools into a nearby school district.
The district first got on the state’s proverbial radar screen in late May when it was realized the district’s bank account was going in the red. District officials immediately contacted the state, and an emergency audit began. The district was about $ 60, 000 in the hole at the end of last fiscal year. So far, estimates for the shortfall for the school year just ended have been up to $ 500, 000.
Auditors have found not only evidence of “ gross mismanagement, ” James said in July, but there is evidence of embezzlement.
Former bookkeeper for the district Tina Murray was arrested Aug. 1 on charges of theft of property, a class B felony; and forgery, a class C felony. The class B felony is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years. The other felony carries a sentence ranging from three to 10 years. Murray resigned in May after discrepancies in the school district’s financial situation came to light. She is accused of illegally obtaining $ 41, 471 from the district.
Another major task for the new superintendent will be to improve the school district’s academic performance. State school board members were gravely concerned in July over the district’s Benchmark test scores, which were well below region and state averages.