Arkansas Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell has applied to be the next superintendent of the Bryant School District.
As of Friday, the district had received four other applications for the position, which was left vacant after the Bryant School Board suspended Superintendent Randy Rutherford on March 10. Rutherford later agreed to submit his resignation, which takes effect June 30.
Kimbrell said Friday that he applied for the superintendent post after several individuals and community members - including Bryant School District Board President Rhonda Sanders - approached him with the suggestion.
“There are just some issues in my life right now that I thought it might be something I would want to investigate,” Kimbrell said. “I think it would be a good place for my daughter to go to school. I will go talk to them to see if my leadership style might be what they’re looking for.”
Sanders said Friday that while she cannot speak for the rest of the board, she is excited to have Kimbrell as an option to lead the district.
“It is a board decision. Tom and I have run in similar circles for several years,” she said. “I know of his integrity. I know of his educational background, the expertise he has with schools and education. I just felt like it would be great for him to apply and see what happens.”
The Bryant School District has been beset by contention this year. Before Rutherford’s suspension, it was discovered that the district’s former business manager, Richard Stipe, who resigned last summer, increased two employees’ salaries and started unauthorized payments to three employees for health-insurance premiums.
Prosecuting Attorney Ken Casady announced Tuesday that the Arkansas State Police said they would take over an investigation into the district’s finances to determine if criminal charges are warranted. The investigation began after the state Legislative Audit Division found irregularities in the district’s financial reports.
Kimbrell said Friday that the Bryant district’s recent turmoil does not intimidate him because he’s used to “hot seat” situations and has experience working with troubled school districts.
“That has been my mode of operation, to go in and solve problems, to bring stability back to the districts,” Kimbrell said.
Kimbrell, 52, who lives in Cabot with his wife and two children, has been the Arkansas education commissioner since 2009. The agency supports and monitors 238 public school districts and public charter schools that serve nearly 475,000 students.
He currently serves as the decision maker for four districts - Pulaski County Special, Helena-West Helena, Mineral Springs and Dollarway - that are under state control because of academic or fiscal distress and have had their school boards dissolved.
He is also a former superintendent in the Paragould and North Little Rock school districts. Between 2005 and September 2009, he headed the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators, an organization of superintendents and other district and school leaders that works to influence and help carry out state education policy.
Sanders said Kimbrell fits the bill of what she is looking for in a new superintendent.
“I am looking forward to a person who has strong leadership skills and has the ability to engage the community, teachers and leadership at the district,” Sanders said. “Someone who sets a high standard and knows how to motivate people to get them climbing up the hill together. That is one of the biggest things. Someone who has that experience for many years, who understands a large and growing district.”
If Kimbrell is offered the Bryant position, he would be the first high-profile state agency director to leave Gov.Mike Beebe’s administration during the two-term governor’s final year of office.
When contacted Friday, Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said he didn’t have any specific comments about Kimbrell considering other positions.
“It’s a common phenomenon toward the end of an administration,” DeCample said.
In January, Kimbrell applied for the superintendent position in the Fayetteville School District but decided in February to revoke his application and remain in his state post. He said at that time, through spokesman Kimberly Friedman, that there was “still work to do” at the state Education Department.
Kimbrell earns a salary of $228,887.98 in his current position. Rutherford’s salary as superintendent of the Bryant district was $155,000.
“The salary is not an issue for me,” Kimbrell said Friday. “It would just have to be the right fit. My skill set and my philosophy about running school districts would have to be what they’re looking for.”
The application period for the Bryant School District superintendent post, which began April 8, ends Sunday.
Sanders said Friday that she expects the position to be filled quickly. Interviews may start as early as Monday, she added.
“It could turn around in one week or two weeks. There is no set timeline,” she said. “I would love to have someone start on July 1. That’s when the contract year starts, and that’s pretty much when everything is settled for the coming school year.”
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 04/19/2014