The North Little Rock School Board filled three key positions in interim superintendent Bobby Acklin's staff Thursday.
Dustin Barnes was named communication coordinator, Cheryl Reinhart was named executive director of human resources, and Brent Miller is the newly approved principal of Crestwood Elementary.
The board unanimously accepted Acklin's recommendation to hire the three individuals.
The hires came more than a month after a divided board rejected Acklin's administrative reorganization plan that included promoting the district's executive director of human resources to the sole assistant superintendent job.
Acklin made the staffing proposals shortly after becoming the interim superintendent in July.
Barnes has had a long career in media, working at TV stations in Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. At KARK-TV/KLRT-TV, he launched the "Step Up, Stop Bullying," campaign and was recognized for his coverage of the disappearance of Cleashindra Hall.
He was most recently employed as the assistant communications director for the Arkansas Department of Career Education.
"He will be a good face for our school and will help promote the good things happening here," Acklin said. "He will know what to say and do in crisis situations."
Barnes will be working on a 245-day contract prorated to 187 days beginning on Oct. 3, with a salary of $76,263.34 prorated to $58,209.16.
Reinhart has directed educator licensing operations for the Arkansas Department of Education. She was also involved in state and national education policy development, federal regulatory compliance and litigation.
"I wanted to include an attorney on staff," Acklin said. "She knows school business and school legislation."
She will be working on a 254-day salary based on 176 days, with a pro-rated salary of $81,694.
Miller was recently employed with the Arkansas Department of Education as a school support specialist. He was also a junior high principal in the Pocahontas School District.
"He is very personable and a hard worker," Acklin said.
He will be working on a 220-day contract prorated to 165 days with a salary of $55,567 for 2018-19.
The board on Thursday also voted to allow Alternative Method of Instruction days to be tweaked to allow students to do makeup days immediately instead of being limited to April.
Metro on 09/18/2018