Springdale School District hiring Department of Education's attorney

SPRINGDALE -- An attorney for the Arkansas Department of Education will join the School District in July as a new administrator.

Kendra Clay, general counsel for the department, has been hired as the new director of pupil, personnel and legal service for Springdale School District, said Jared Cleveland, deputy superintendent for personnel. The position was created with responsibilities for overseeing student and legal services for the School Board and providing legal counsel to the superintendent and staff.

The School Board unanimously approved the new position at its meeting Tuesday.

The position is a change in the leadership team for Springdale School District. Gary Compton, the district's assistant superintendent for support services, is retiring at the end of the school year after four years with the district and 44 years in education.

The district isn't hiring another assistant superintendent, Cleveland said. For the 2016-17 school year, Cleveland's responsibilities will expand to duties assigned to Compton. Those responsibilities include oversight of transportation, facilities, custodians and student services.

Clay will report to Rollins, but also will support Cleveland, he said. The salary for the new director's position ranges from $90,000 to $110,000.

School Board Vice President Kevin Ownbey said, "We're taking one position, Dr. Compton's and Dr. Cleveland's position, and putting those together."

While the position is new, the district's leadership team will have the same number of people, Ownbey said. The new staff position also provides an attorney for the leadership team, overseeing a district of 23,000 children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and more than 2,700 staff.

Clay became the state department's general counsel July 1.

Clay now oversees the department's Office of Legal Services and compliance with federal and state requirements. She advises Commissioner of Education Johnny Key and the State Board of Education. Clay started working for the department in 2010 as a staff attorney.

Clay didn't respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.

The job description approved Tuesday for her position lists 47 functions of the position, including approving school choice and transfer requests, promoting the welfare and safety of students, providing legal opinions for the School Board, and advising and training staff on legal matters.

Job duties also include modeling ethical behavior; safeguarding the values of democracy, equity and diversity; ensuring student needs inform all aspects of schooling and evaluating the potential moral and legal consequences of decision-making.

NW News on 05/11/2016