Suggs resigns as superintendent of LR district

FILE — Dexter Suggs speaks at a January news conference in Little Rock.
FILE — Dexter Suggs speaks at a January news conference in Little Rock.

Dexter Suggs has resigned as superintendent of the Little Rock School District, a position he had held on an interim basis after the state took control of it earlier this year.

Suggs' resignation comes after the blog Blue Hog Report accused Suggs of plagiarism in his 2009 doctoral dissertation at Indiana Wesleyan University. Suggs told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he did not "intentionally" plagiarize and that "everything was aboveboard."

The Education Department said the resignation, which was signed by Suggs on Tuesday, is effective immediately. A statement from Education Commissioner Johnny Key did not address the plagiarism charges, though the resignation agreement contains a clause that would void future payments to Suggs if his degree is voided.

“The Arkansas Department of Education will work with the Little Rock School District to provide the high level of educational services required by the Arkansas Constitution," Key said in the statement. "Through this period of transition, we will work in a collaborative way with teachers, administrators, staff, and the community.”

Marvin Burton, an associate superintendent who served as interim superintendent before Suggs' hiring, will serve as the interim leader of the district. He will answer to Key.

According to the agreement reached between Suggs and the state, Suggs will be paid about $46,000 within the next 10 days and will receive $202,000 in four payments over roughly the next year. However, the latter payments would be voided if Suggs' degree is "revoked, rescinded or otherwise nullified," the agreement states.

Indiana Wesleyan officials have said they are investigating the plagiarism accusation and noted that revocation of a degree is one possible sanction in cases of academic dishonesty.

The state Board of Education voted in January to take over the district because six of its schools were classified as being in academic distress, a move that included the dissolution of the local school board.

An official at the district's superintendent office said Suggs was not there Tuesday morning. She said she did not know whether he would be back or if he had already cleaned out his office.

See Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full coverage.

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