State fills top post

Larry Ben appointed head of Decatur School District

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

— Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell selected Larry Ben of Gravette to serve as the next superintendent of the Decatur School District, according to a press release from the Arkansas Department of Education.

Because the Decatur School District has been under state control and will not have an elected school board until September, the ADE hired Ben on the district’s behalf, the release states.

Ben was chosen from a field of 19 applicants.

A committee of Decatur community members worked with ADE officials to narrow the candidates down to five and conduct interviews before Kimbrell made the final appointment.

Ben will sign a one-year contract and assume his duties on July 1, the day after stateappointed superintendent LeRoy Ortman’s resignation becomes official. He will be paid $87,000 for the 2010-2011 school year, the release states.

Ortman discussed the announcement at Monday’s Townhall meeting.

“I fell like he is a really good choice for the Decatur School District,” Ortman said.

Ben has taught biology and coached football at the Rogers High School for the last two years. Before that, he was the principal of the Rogers Sophomore Campus from 2001-2008 and also held administrative, teaching and coaching positions, according to Ortman

Prior to his experience at Rogers, Ben was a teacher and coach at the Gravette High School, he said. Ortman is the former superintendent of Gravette schools, but the two men never worked together because Ben left in 1993 and Ortman didn’t arrive until 1995, Ortman explained.

“His expertise is in instruction, which Decatur needs. What he needs to learn in finances Terry and I can easily teach him. He seems to be a quick learner and a very bright and intelligent man,” Ortman said.

Ortman said he will be glad to serve as a consultant if he is asked. He also said he invited Ben to his home on Friday to get to know him on a personal basis.

“After getting to know him personally a little bit, I really feel like he was a good choice for you folks,” Ortman said.

Ortman said the school is planning a “Meet theSuperintendent” night to introduce Ben to the community. Although the details have yet to be finalized, the event will be held before school lets out for summer break, he said.

News, Pages 1 on 05/12/2010