Another lengthy executive session in the third special-called Watson Chapel School Board meeting in nine days did not yield a new superintendent -- not even one on an interim basis.
Board members met privately for 102 minutes after opening Tuesday evening's meeting, and it was mainly to interview a candidate for the interim role, board President Sandra Boone confirmed. Boone declined to name candidates, but the board voted coming out of the executive session to conduct interviews through 3 p.m. Monday, three hours before a regular board meeting is scheduled at Watson Chapel Junior High School, a room for which is yet to be announced.
The board on Thursday accepted the resignation of Andrew Curry, one day shy of his first anniversary as superintendent. Boone cited an investigation into allegations similar to those made against Curry when he was superintendent in the Jessieville district, leading to his resignation there in 2014, but did not specify what Curry was accused of at Watson Chapel.
To avoid a potential termination without cause from Watson Chapel, Curry agreed to a settlement of $57,315.10, to be paid by July 15, in addition to $32,291.18 directly to the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System toward his retirement, to be contributed by July 13, according to a document provided by the district under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
Curry has not yet responded to calls seeking comment. His nameplate is noticeably removed from the board dais.
Boone called it "a very strong possibility" either the person named interim superintendent or each candidate interviewing will be considered for the permanent position. Those who put their names in the running may apply for the full-time role. The first day of school for the fall semester is Aug. 22.
"We are going to do interviews first because we want to be more careful this time than we were the last time around," Boone said. "We're going to do an interim process, and when we think we've got the good fit, it will be all over."
The lack of a successor, even if only for the meantime, has led to criticism of the board from some district employees and many patrons. Tuesday's meeting was sparsely attended, a far cry from an emotionally charged gathering mostly in support of Curry five days earlier.
"At this point, I was expecting anything," high school science teacher Cameran Faucette said after Tuesday's meeting. "I feel like I've wasted my time, and this is the second school board meeting in a row they've wasted my time. An interim would have been nice, but it seems like they don't really care about us as a community, to be perfectly honest, and even me as an employee."
Faucette said he supported Curry as a superintendent, adding Curry did everything he was supposed to as he was "thrust into" the role.
"I feel like he was blindsided by this, for one, and I feel like the school failed him," Faucette said.
Board members also dealt with personnel matters, which Boone stressed cannot be discussed openly.
"We are very transparent, and anybody who works in a school system -- I know we had at least one principal -- that principal should have been aware, being an Arkansas educator, executive session information on personnel cannot be discussed publicly," Boone said. "The bashing and constant questioning doesn't make sense to me."
Boone also rejected any notions from patrons that a lack of leadership could lead to Watson Chapel being taken over by the Arkansas Department of Education, a fate neighboring districts Pine Bluff and Dollarway met in the past decade. The Dollarway district was annexed into the Pine Bluff district last July 1.
Former Watson Chapel Superintendent Jerry Guess, thought to be considered for the interim role, was credited with strengthening the financial status of the district from distressed before his resignation in June 2021.
"We are working very hard to remain solvent, and that's what we work toward now. We have to do what we have to do to keep this school [district]," Boone said. "This board will do everything it can working as a team to make sure this school [district] is not taken over. And if someone is not a good fit, we'll look for someone else."
CORRECTION: Former Watson Chapel School District Superintendent Andrew Curry agreed to a settlement of $57,315.10, to be paid by July 15, in addition to $32,291.18 directly to the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System toward his retirement, to be contributed by July 13, according to a document provided by the district under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. The agreement allowed Curry to avoid a potential termination without cause. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the amount that Curry was owed, as well as the options that Curry faced.