Special meeting called to discuss superintendent
Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008
The Fayetteville Board of Education had one of its shortest and most atypical meetings in recent history Thursday.
Six of the seven board members attended the meeting that was called with less than four hours of notice. Member Tim Kring was absent.
Board President Steve Percival called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. and announced that the board needed to go into closed session to discuss "the employment of the superintendent."
The board then met in closed session with Superintendent Bobby New for about 15 minutes. The board then reconvened, Percival said no action would be taken, and the meeting was adjourned.
New and most of the board members then left without further comment. Board member John Delap said the discussion was about "a current employee."
Under the state's open meetings law, the personnel exemption for holding closed sessions has to involve discussion of a specific individual.
New has previously announced he plans to retire in June 2009.
The board had planned to hire a superintendent who could begin working next year and succeed New when he retires. However, the only candidate interviewed for the job, Bryant School District Superintendent Richard Abernathy, decided not to accept the position on May 8.
The board is expected to discuss the superintendent search and whether to hire a search firm at its meeting on May 29.
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