DECATUR — School board members voted, at a Feb. 20 meeting, to renew Decatur superintendent Larry Ben’s contract for the 2011-2012 school year.

Board members discussed the decision for two and a half hours in executive session andquestioned Ben for more than 45 minutes before returning for a vote on the contract.

All of the board members, with the exception of Justin Thompson who was not present, voted in favor of renewing Ben’s contract under the same terms and salary. Board members did not make any other comments on their decision.

Ben, who holds a doctorate degree in education, was hired last year from a field of 20 applicants. Because Ben was selected for the job before a local school board was elected, a committee of local community members and Arkansas Department of Education officials made the decision to hire him.

News, Pages 16 on 03/02/2011