GRAVETTE — Andrea Kelly, school superintendent, announced Thursday she will resign in June.
The Gravette School Board immediately went into executive session Thursday to discuss Kelly’s letter, which began, “With much trepidation, I submit my resignation from employment with the Gravette School Board of Education effective June 30, 2012.”
June 30 marks the end of the fiscal year for the district. Kelly is completing her fourth year as superintendent. Gravette has four schools with an enrollment of 1,800 students.
Kelly was not called to speak to the board during its 25-minute closed session.
The board reconvened in public and the unanimous vote to accept the resignation was taken. Dan Yates, board president, expressed to Kelly “the board’s appreciation for the time and leadership you have provided the district, and now as we all more forward we hope for you the best.”
No board members made comments following the meeting.
Kelly, who began her position in Gravette in July 2008, was a 26-year education veteran in Oklahoma and was chief executive officer and superintendent of Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater, Okla., before coming to Arkansas.
At A Glance
Roll Call
Five members of the seven-member Gravette School Board attended and voted at Thursday’s meeting. They were Susan Santos, John Edwards, Jim Singleton, Dan Alsup and Dan Yates, board president. Not attending were members Jim Hendren and Jack Skillett.
Source: Staff Report
Kelly said her decision to resign was not easy to make, but it was something that needed to happen.
“The function of the superintendency requires one to make tough decisions about the operations of the district, which are not always popular,” Kelly said. “If the board is not supportive of the decisions of the superintendent and the leadership team, then a personal decision must be made relative to the best interests of employees in the district and more importantly, our students.”
In her letter of resignation, Gravette School District Superintendent Andrea Kelly wrote: “I appreciate the opportunity to have spent four years in this district working with a dedicated group of professionals in the classroom, support services, and building administrators.
“There are three items for which you should take pride. The district 1) remains in very strong financial position, 2) principals, classroom educators, Dr. Hastings and Donna Rush have developed a documented curriculum that aligns the content from kindergarten through twelfth grades, and 3) the district is a model in the state for the efforts undertaken to facilitate a smooth transition to the Common Core State Standards. These accomplishments are the result of a dedicated, talented group of educators who believe in blazing new paths and making great things happen.
“I wish only the best for this district. My one main desire is that every child be given the opportunity to achieve success and inherit the same opportunity to reach for the stars as my parents and great teachers guided me to do.”