SEARCY — Delena Gammill has been selected by the Riverview School Board as the district’s next superintendent.
Gammill, who currently works for the Fayetteville-based Arkansas Leadership Academy, recently served as superintendent of the Ozark Mountain School District in St. Joseph. Gammill’s long history of district leadership also includes stints as assistant superintendent for the Clinton School District and on the Arkansas Activities Association’s board of directors. Gammill will start with the Riverview district on July 1.
“Based on my visits, one of my big challenges will be to oversee the upcoming curriculum transition, … making sure the curriculum is implemented smoothly,” Gammill said.
Riverview School Board president Buton Scott said Gammill was chosen from among 24 applicants and was hired at the same salary of outgoing superintendent Howard Morris, $114,665.
“Dr. Gammill was very up to date and knows what she’s doing,” Scott said. “With her schooling and the schools she’s been over, we expect her to do very well. She is very energetic.”
Scott said Gammill’s hiring was a unanimous decision by the board.
Morris said that among Gammill’s biggest challenges in taking over the district will be “trying to make sure that everything is ready and in place for school to start in early August, such as staff is hired, all buildings are ready and most likely finishing up a building project.”
There is also a possibility, Morris said, that Gammill will oversee a new building project in the fall, if money is allocated to the project by the state.
Morris and Gammill have already spoken by phone and will soon begin in-person meetings to ease the transition.
“I know our staff will continue to focus on the students and what is best for them and their achievement,” Morris said. “I know Dr. Gammill will be highly focused on student achievement and success, so this should make a great year in 2013-14 for Riverview.”